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QACON   &   COMPANV,    PRINTEA3. 


l/i^^ 


DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 


REJ^ORTS 


ON  THE 


DISEASES    OF    CATTLE 


IN 


THE  UNITED  STATES, 


MADE  TO  THE 


COMMISSIONER   OF   AORICULTURE, 


WITH 


ACCOMPANYING    DOCUMENTS. 


u, 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING     OFFICE. 
186  9. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Preface ^ 

Eeport  ou  the  Lung  Plague,  by  Professor  Joliu  Gamgee,  M.  D 7 

Appeudix  No.  1.— Tabular  statement  of  Mortality  in  Cattle,  by  Mr.  John  Reid 73 

Appendices  Nos.  2  and  3.— Tables  of  Dutch  experiments  on  Inoculation,  1st  and 

2d  series '^4 

Report  on  the  111  Effects  of  Smutty  Corn  on  Cattle,  by  Professor  John  Gamgee,  M.  D.  78 

Eeport  on  the  Splenic  or  Periodic  Fever  of  Cattle,  by  Professor  John  Gamgee,  M.  D.  90 

General  remarks  on  the  cattle  diseases  reported  on 162 

Remarks  on  the  Ixodes  Bovis,  by  C.  N.  Riley,  St.  Louis,  Missouri 168 

Letter  of  Mr.  H.  W.  Ravenel,  South  Carolina,  on  the  Fungi  of  Texas 169 

Eeport  of  results  of  examinations  of  Fluids  of  Diseased  Cattle  with  reference  to 

presence  of  Cryptogamic  Growth,  by  Doctors  Billings  and  Curtis,  U.  S.  A 174 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

COPPERPLATE. 

Fig.  1. — Micrococcus. 

2.' — Bacteria. 

3. — Cryptococcus,  (common  form.) 

4. — Cryptococcus  guttulatus,  (Ch.  Robin.) 

5. — Penicillium  crustaceum,  (Fr.  old.) 

7. — Aspergillus. 

8,  9,  10.— Mncor  racemosus,  (Fres.,)  from  Hoffman. 
11. — Blood  from  splenic  fever  X  450. 
12.— Bacteria  from  bile  of  splenic  fever  X  1,200. 
13. — Mycelium  with  sporangial  dilations,  result  of  culture  of  splenic  fever  blood. 


WOODCUTS. 


14. — A  vacuum  tul)e. 
15. — Isolation  apparatus. 
16. — Culture  apparatus. 
17. — Development  apparatus. 
18. — Ixodes  Bovis. 


112588 


PREFACE. 


About  the  middle  of  Jiiue,  18G8,  a  disease  broke  out  at  Cairo,  Illinois, 
at  a  point  where  large  numbers  of  Texas  cattle  had  been  landed.  It 
was  thought  to  resemble  the  disease  of  the  old  Spanish  cattle  on  the 
Gulf  coast,  and  was  thence  called  "Spanish  fever"  and  "Texas  cattle 
disease."  This  spread  into  Southern  Illinois  and  other  districts  in  con- 
nection with  the  grand  depot  at  Cairo. 

My  attention  was  called  to  the  serious  natiu^e  of  this  disease  when 
visiting  the  fair  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
whereupon  I  secured  the  services  of  Professor  Gamgee,  of  London, 
England,  who  was  at  the  time  in  this  country,  to  make  a  full  investiga- 
tion, under  the  following  instructions: 

lu  view  of  the  alarming  and  continued  ravages  of  the  cattle  disease  in  Illinois,  known 
poi^ularly  as  the  "  Spanish  fever,"  and  assumed  to  be  communicated  by  cattle  recently 
from  Texas,  I  hereby  authorize  you  to  make  investigations  into  its  cause  and  character, 
and  to  ascertain  and  rei)ort,  if  possible,  a  practicable  remedy  or  means  of  prevention. 

In  accordance  with  this  letter,  the  i)rofessor  visited  the  districts  in 
Illinois  and  vicinity  which  w^ere  affected. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year,  in  comj)any  with  Mr.  H.  W.  Eavenel,  of 
South  Carolina,  an  accomplished  botanist,  he  visited  that  part  of  Texas 
on  and  near  the  Gulf  coast,  and  examined  into  the  conditions  of  food  and 
general  mode  of  life  of  the  native  cattle  of  Texas  at  those  points  whence 
transportation  begins.  The  observations  made  are  embodied  in  the 
accompanying  reports  of  Messrs.  Gamgee  and  Eavenel. 

It  being  desirable  that  some  observations  should  be  made  upon  the 
.  effect  of  fungi  entering  the  system  of  animals  in  producing  alterations 
of  the  blood  and  other  animal  fluids,  or  general  deviations  from  health 
in  stock,  a  request  was  made  by  this  Department  to  Brevet  Briga- 
dier General  J.  K.  Barnes,  Surgeon  General  United  States  army,  that 
Doctors  J.  S.  Billings  and  E.  Curtis,  assistant  surgeons  United  States 
army,  might  be  authorized  to  assist  Professor  Gamgee  in  his  experi. 
ments  upon  the  subject  of  the  cryptogamic  causes  of  disease.  The 
Surgeon  General  authorized  these  gentlemen  to  enter  upon  that  duty, 
and  their  report  is  ai^pended. 

It  is  not  to  be  presumed  that  this  report  renders  further  investigation 
needless ;  on  the  contrary,  some  practical  points  not  yet  reached  urgently 
demand  examination.  One  of  these  is  the  best  mode  of  arresting  con- 
tagion and  the  proper  preparation  of  cattle  for  transportation  north. 
To  carry  out  this  investigation  a  further  appropriation  is  needed. 


(3  PREFACE. 

Accompanying  these  reports  are  two  series  of  micro-photographs  of 
great  beauty  and  value,  which  are  not  roprortuced  here.  One  is  a  series 
of  eight  niicro-photographs,  i)ainted,  illustrative  of  diseased  organs  and 
tissues  of  cattle  laboring  under  pleuro-pneunionia.  The  second  series  is 
a  group  of  twelve  micro-photographs  of  diseased  tissues  and  organs  of 
cattle  that  have  died  of  the  Texas  fever  or  of  pleuro-pneumonia,  which 
latter  series  has  been  taken  at  the  Army  Medical  Museum  in  this  city, 
under  the  supervision  of  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  J.  Woodward, 
United  States  army,  from  specimens  of  disease  forwarded  from  various 
points.  An  exi)lanatory  report  of  the  pathological  indications,  from  the 
pen  of  Dr.  AYoodward,  accompanies  the  plates,  and  it  is  to  me  a  matter 
of  great  regret  that  these  portions  of  the  work  done  for  the  Department 
cannot  appear  with  the  reports  in  the  present  edition.  The  cost  of  repro- 
ducing these  as  illustrations  is  so  great  that  I  have  not  felt  authorized 
to  expend  the  Department  appropriation  in  order  that  they  might  be 
inserted  here.  As,  however,  they  are  essential  parts  of  the  report,  and 
necessary  to  complete  the  medical  natural  history  of  the  diseases  treated 
of,  it  is  hoped  that  a  sum  sufficient  to  cover  the  expense  of  engraving 
will  be  appropriated  by  Congress,  so  that  in  another  edition  they  may 
be  added,  and  the  reports  appear  in  complete  form. 

The  rapid  extension  of  pleiu'o-pneumonia  during  the  summer  of  18G8, 
and  its  increased  fatality  at  points  where  cattle  were  collected  in  num- 
bers, made  it  the  duty  of  the  Department  to  ascertain  its  nature,  extent, 
and  the  possible  means  of  checking  or  wholly  obliterating  it.  1  there- 
fore authorized  Professor  Gamgee,  in  the  autumn  of  1868,  to  make  a  full 
investigation  of  the  disease  then  spreading  through  many  States  of  the 
Union.  In  December  of  that  year  Professor  Gamgee  presented  a  prelim- 
nary  report,  which  was  published  in  the  monthly  reports  of  1808.  His 
final  report  is  herewith  presejited. 

HOEACE  CAPEOX, 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 


c 


THE  LUNG  PLAGUE, 


BY  JOHN  GAMGEE,  M.  D. 


INTEODUCTION. 

The  lung  plague  of  cattle,  developed  alone  as  tlie  result  of  contagion , 
recedes  and  is  extinguished  wherever  the  people  are  fully  informed  of 
its  origin  and  nature,  and  measures  based  on  such  knowledge  are 
adopted  and  enforced.  Americans  can  learn  this  from  Massachusetts. 
It  is,  however,  the  most  insidious  and  the  most  deceptive  of  all  malig- 
nant bovine  disorders.  It  penetrates  and  travels  far  and  wide,  where 
unsuspecting  farmers  and  dairymen  are  far  from  skilled  in  the  veterin- 
ary art.  It  kills,  and  yet  there  are  survivors  which  resist  all  further 
attacks,  and  in  the  course  of  time  they  tend  to  form  a  small  but  useful 
nucleus  of  insusceptible  stock,  which  enables  the  i^eople  to  go  on, 
though  in  pov-erty,  and  hope  for  better  luck.  Everj^  one  strives,  but  in 
secret,  lest  the  publication  of  facts  should  prevent  the  sale  and  transfer 
of  unhealthy  or  infected  stock.  Long  Island,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland,  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  Virginia,  furnish  wide  fields  in 
which  to  determine  the  truth  of  these  statements. 

In  x)erusing  the  history  of  contagious  pleuro-pneumouia,  it  will  be 
found  that  the  experiences  of  the  New  World  are  but  repetitions  of  those 
recorded  by  Europeans. 

In  advising  as  to  the  most  certain  means  whereby  so  destructive  a 
malady  may  be  eradicated  from  this  country,  I  have  been  actuated  by 
the  belief  that  the  diffusion  of  knowledge,  in  a  form  that  will  carry  con- 
viction home  to  every  intelligent  American,  is  the  most  certain  means 
whereby  to  deal  a  death  blow  to  the  lung  plague.  There  are  many  pru- 
dent and  earnest  leaders  of  the  agricultural  body  in  every  State,  who 
can  work,  and  will  work,  if  armed  with  reliable  information;  and  it  is 
my  belief  in  this  that  has  induced  me  to  spare  no  labor  in  rendering 
this  as  complete  and  satisfactory  a  record  as  possible,  of  all  the  knowl- 
edge on  the  subject  that  is  at  present  at  our  disposal.  Farmers  must 
not  be  alarmed  at  the  scientific  garb  which  must  necessarily  invest  such 
a  work.  If  they  follow  me  through,  without  a  dictionary,  they  will  not 
be  left  in  doubt  as  to  my  meaning,  and  I  hope  not  a  few  will  rise,  after 
a  perusal  of  what  follows,  even  though  they  nuiy  inhabit  the  far  distant 
I)rairies  and  the  mountains  of  California,  and  exclaim  that  it  is  the  duty  of 
every  American,  and  especially  of  every  American  farmer,  to  manifest 
his  interest  in  the  extinction  of  a  malady  that  may  for  centuries,  if 


8  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

loft  unlM'Oik'd  now,  harass  the  stook-iaisors  of  tho  entire  continent,  anti 
brin.y  imverty  and  ruin  to  many  thousands  of  families. 

The  report  has  been  subdivided,  for  convenience  of  reference,  nnder 
the  followin*'-  heads: 

I.  Names  by  which  the  lung  plague  is  or  has  been  known  in  different 
parts  of  the  world. 

II.  History  of  the  lung  plague  from  the  remotest  to  the  present  time. 

III.  Signs  or  symptoms  by  which  the  disease  is  recognized  during  life. 

IV.  Signs  or  appearances  l)y  which  it  is  recognized  after  death. 

Y.  How  the  disease  is  induced,  with  special  reference  to  predis- 
posing causes  and  the  nature  of  contagion. 

VI.  The  pathology  or  nature  of  Inng  plague. 

VII.  Medical  or  curative  treatment  of  the  lung  plague. 

VIII.  Prevention  of  the  lung  plague. 

NOMENCLATURE. 

The  popular  term  murrain  was  applied,  in  times  past,  to  all  fatal  cattle 
diseases  that  prevailed  in  an  epizootic  form.  The  lii'st  satisfactory  de- 
scription of  the  lung  plague,  written  by  Boiu'gelat,  in  1769,  teaches  us 
that  the  malady  had  been  known  for  some  years  in  Franche-Comte, 
under  the  name  "miuie."  The  expression  "pulmonary  murrain"  has 
been  somewhat  extensively  used  in  Great  Britain  of  late  years,  espe- 
cially when  reference  has  been  made  to  the  outbreaks  of  the  last  century, 
which  has  been  considered  as  due  to  the  simultaneous  introduction  in 
the  British  Isles  of  the  Steppe  murrain,  commonly  known  as  rinderpest 
and  cattle  plague,  and  contagious  lung  disease. 

When  free  trade  first  admitted  continental  cattle  and  the  lung 
plague  into  the  British  Isles,  this  century,  the  dairyman  who  first 
observed  the  now  fatal  foot  and  mouth  disease  at  once  became  alarmed 
at  the  "  new  disease,"  which  proved  incurable.  Professor  Hertwig,  of 
Berlin,  and  correspondents  of  agricultural  papers,  soon  enabled  our 
veterinarians  to  recognize  in  the  "  new  disease  "  the  Lungensciiche,  or, 
literally,  lungs'  plague  of  cattle,  which  had  been  studied  with  great 
ability  by  the  veterinary  surgeons  of  Germany.  Haller  had  termed  it 
Viehseuclie,  and  expressed  his  astonishment  that  it  had  not  been  recog- 
nized as  a  disease  of  the  lungs. 

German  writers  w^ere  so  numerous  that  attempts  were  not  rare  to  give 
a  scientific  name  to  the  disease,  and  Sauberg  (juotes  seven  Latin  sen- 
tences em])loyed  by  different  authorities  in  accordance  with  the  views 
of  the  nature  and  origin  of  the  disease.     They  are  : 

Peripneumonia  pecorum  epizootica  typhosa—Veith,Tscheulin,Biirger. 

Perii>neumonia  exsudativa  contagiosa— By chner.  Van  Hertum. 
Peripneumonia  exsudativa  enzootica  et  contagiosa — Gielen. 
Periinieumonia  s.  pleuroi)neumonia  pecorum  enzootica — Dieterichs, 

Vix. 

I'leuritis  rheumatico-exsudativa — Wagenfeld. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  9 

Pleuropneumonia  interlobnlaris  exsndativa — Gluge. 

Pneumonia  catarrlialis  gastrica  astlienica — Numann. 

Haller's  title  of  Vichseuche  is  now  almost  ahvays  restricted  to  tlie 
Eussian  murrain,  and  tbe  name  in  universal  use  in  Germany  is  the 
j)opular  one  of  Lungenseuche,  and  on  the  title  pages  of  monographs  the 
ordinary  expression  employed  is  Lungenseuche  des  Bindviehes.  It  has, 
howevCT,  also  been  termed  Lungenfdule  and  Krebsartige  Lungenfiinle. 

Of  the  French  authors,  Chabert  first  names  the  malady  PeHpneumo- 
nie,  oil  affection  gangreneiise  du  Pomnon.  Huzard  describes  it  under 
ihOi  \\q,a(\.  Peripneiimonie  Chronique,  ou pMhisie  pulmonalre,  and  in  1844: 
Delafond  designated  it  Peripneumonie  contagieuse  du  gros  Betail. 

The  Dutch  called  it  Kivaadaardige  SlymzieMe,  Hecrscliende  or  Besmet- 
ielyhe  Longzielcte,  Slymzielcfe,  SlymlongzieMe,  and  BotacJitige  Longzielde. 

In  Italy  it  has  been  known  by  the  names  Pulmonea  del  Bovini,  and 
Pleuropneu monia  essudafiva. 

I  am  disposed  to  favor,  as  a  popular  name,  that  of  "lung  plague,"  in 
order  to  avoid  any  confusion  with  sporadic  and  non-contagious  affec- 
tions of  the  chest.  Many  years  ago  Mr.  Sarginson,  of  Westmoreland, 
England,  spoke  of  it  as  an  epizootic  influenza  among  cattle,  and  Mr. 
Barlow,  afterwards  a  much  respected  profess.or  in  the  Edinburgh  Veterin- 
ary College,  was  among  the  first  to  draw  attention  to  the  disease  under 
the  head  Epizootic  Pleuropneumonia. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  LUNG  PLAGUE. 

Ancient  traditions  and  imperfect  records  rather  tend  to  bewilder  those 
who,  from  the  inferences  warranted  by  a  comj^lete  knowledge  of  recent 
events,  are  anxious  to  place  before  the  world  evidence  of  the  laws  of 
nature  having  been  immutable  from  time  immemorial.  Our  ideas  of 
creation,  and  the  facts  bearing  on  the  origin  of  all  things,  are  too  meager 
to  warrant  us  in  being  confident  of  our  interpretations  of  the  past ;  and 
yet  glimpses  of  light  seem  to  promise  a  better  understanding  of  even 
antediluvian  phenomena  in  almost  every  branch  of  natural  history. 

The  assertion  that  plagues  known  now  to  be  propagated  alone  by  conta- 
gion have  thus  been  transmitted  from  the  remotest  antiquity,  is  usually 
met  by  objectors  with  the  declaration  that  the  first  case  must  have  devel- 
oped spontaneously.  Professor  Haubner,  of  Dresden,*  accepting  the 
proposition,  says :  "  It  is  correct  that  the  lung  plague  was  once  devel- 
oped spontaneously,  for  no  one  can  suppose  that  Noah  had  it  with  him 
in  the  ark."  But  we  can  point  to  a  contagious  disease,  scab  in  sheep, 
which,  if  the  words  of  the  Bible  are  to  be  accepted,  indicate  the  preser- 
vation of  the  scab  insect.  It  is  not  my  desire  to  enter  on  discussions 
which  have  no  direct  practical  bearing,  and  I  shall  dismiss  the  objec- 
tions of  those  who  spare  themselves  the  labor  of  inquiry  after  posi- 
tive truth,  by  declaring  that,  so  far  as  science  has  yet  taught  us,  the  great 
law,  that  like  produces  like,  operates  in  the  increase  of  certain  animal  poi- 


*  Die  Entstehuug  und  Tilguug  tier  Luugeuseuclie  des  Riudes,  vou  Dr.  Karl  Haubuer, 
Leipzig,  ItiGL 


10  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

sons  or  forms  of  specific  virus,  just  as  in  the  case  of  other  livinji'  entities 
whose  reproduction  is  undoubted.  Spontaneous  veneration — tin-  tlu'ory 
otdeveh)i)nieut  hvan  aeei<U'ntal  coliesion  and  vivifying- oi' inert  matter — 
ably  as  it  lias  been  defended  up  to  the  present  day,  is  fast  passing  into 
oblivion.  We  are,  and  must  probably  remain,  in  ignorance  of  that  final 
cause  which  once  molded  and  gave  life  to  all  that  is  living.  All  that 
is  living,  however,  owes  that  life  to  parents,  ever  since  the  globe  43ecame 
inhabited;  and  there  are  no  facts  to  iiulicatc  that  one  form  of  living  mat- 
ter grew  out  of  another,  and  a  totally  different,  form,  and  that  there  were 
successive  stages  in  the  creation  of  animals  or  parts  of  animals.  Animal 
poisons  are  only  known  to  us,  it  is  true,  as  parts  of  animals.  They  are 
undistinguishable,  except  from  the  results  produced  by  them  on  the 
creatures  they  infest,  and  yet  they  are  as  foreign  to  them  as  the  count- 
less parasites  that  are  only  known  to  us  as  abiding  in  the  living  tissues  of 
living  beings.  Indeed  animal  poisons  may  be  regarded  as  i)arasitic  pro- 
ductions, and  their  difference  from  the  more  apparent  types  of  organized 
entities  may  be  due  more  to  imperfect  means  of  observation  than  to  act- 
ual diversity. 

Eftbrts  are  indeed  being  made  to  demonstrate  the  vegetable  origin  of 
many  animal  poisons,  and  it  is  supposed  by  some  that  crytogamic  plants, 
fuugi,  &c.,  not  only  approach  more  the  nature  of  many  forms  of  specific 
virus,  but  actually  constitute  the  contagium  or  active  principle  which 
breeds  and  propagates  in  the  development  of  small-pox,  cholera,  the 
plagues  of  the  lower  animals,  &c.  There  is  one  grave  objection  to  all 
that  has  yet  been  done  in  this  interesting  field  of  inquiry.  The  vegeta- 
ble forms  into  which  poisons  are  said  to  pullulate  have  not,  in  a  single 
instance,  been  successfully  emploj^ed  iu  the  reproduction  of  the  diseases 
they  have  been  supposed  to  generate. 

Delafond*  quotes  Aristotle,  who  wrote  his  work  on  the  History  of 
Animals  three  hundred  and  fifty-four  years  before  Christ,  iu  proof  of 
cattle  being  then  known  to  suffer  from  a  disease  of  the  lungs.  "  The 
cattle,"  he  says,  "which  live  iu  herds  are  subject  to  a  malady,  during 
which  the  breathing  becomes  hot  and  frequent.  The  ears  droop,  and 
they  cannot  eat.  They  die  rapidly,  and  on  opening  them  the  lungs  are 
found  spoiled."' 

in  the  collection  of  extracts  and  writings  of  the  Greek  veterinarians 
made  by  order  of  the  Emperor  Constantine,  descriptions  of  the  lung 
diseases  of  cattle  are  given  Avhich  may  lead  us  to  infer  the  prevalence 
even  then  of  the  lung  plague.t 

It  would  l>e  simply  waste  of  time  to  discuss  the  merits  of  unsatisfac- 
tory hints — for  tliey  are  not  records — which  have  been  traced  in  the 
writings  of  Livy,   Vegetius,  Sylvius  Italicus,  Columella,  Virgil,  ami 

*Tn>it<^  snr  In  ^lalinlif  ilc  Poitriiio  dii  Gros  T^c^t.ul,  cruinue  sons  1o  noiii  do  Poripiu'u. 
iiionie  C'oiitii;ii»'iisc,  [cir  ().  ]>il;itoiiil,  I'aii.s,  1814. 

tGcupoiiicoiuni,  sen  dc  re  Rustica,  Lib.  XX — «(lit((l  by  Peter  NfcilliMiii,  Ciunbridgo, 
17U4— Quoted  by  .Saubery. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  11 

others;  liints  wliicli  no  doubt  demoustrate  that  wliicli  tew  will  question — 
that  ijulnionary  disorders  have  existed  throughout  all  time. 

The  evidence  we  need  is  that  definite  record  of  outbreaks  of  a  malady 
marked  by  the  leading  characteristics  of  the  lung  plague.  We  have  to 
skip  the  age  of  pure  quackerj-,  when  nothing  but  the  unsatisfactory  pre- 
scriptions of  ignorant  pretenders  in  veterinary  medicine  were  handed 
down  as  valuable  additions  to  human  knowledge.  A  purpose  is  served, 
however,  by  referring  to  these  dark  ages,  when,  in  their  blindness,  men 
sought  to  arrest  the  unrelenting  torrents  of  fierce  contagious  by  pills, 
draughts,  charms,  and  incantatio  as.  It  makes  one  blush  for  the  errors 
and  superstitions  Avhich,  in  the  Old  World  and  the  Kew,  prevail  up  to 
the  xu'csent  hour.  For  seven  and  twenty  years,  at  least,  my  countrymen 
have,  in  the  main,  favored  nothing  but  quackery  in  this  respect  just  as 
much  as  continental  nations  that  suffered  in  ignorance  did  in  the  seven- 
teen hundred  years  succeeding  the  birth  of  Christ.  So  late  as  18G5  the 
outbreak  of  a  virulent  cattle  plague  in  England  developed  in  its  train 
the  compounders  of  drugs  and  filth  and  the  believers  in  the  treatment 
of  isolated  cases  of  a  plague;  of  a  plague,  indeed,  which  advances  in 
direct  ratio  to  the  delay  in  extinguishing  its  virulent  poison,  and  the 
rapidity  of  whose  spread  may  be  likened  to  that  of  the  confluent  moun- 
tain waters  that  form  inland  seas  and  navigable  streams.  Let  the  peo- 
ple learn  from  the  ancient  history  of  veterinary  medicine,  as  they  can 
learn  from  recent  events,  that  to  dam  the  Mississippi  and  annihilate  its 
waters  is  quite  as  easy  a  process  as  attempting  to  save  a  country  from 
incalculable  loss  by  the  medical  treatment  of  isolated  cases  of  a  si^ecific 
and  contagious  cattle  x)lague. 

That  is  the  lesson  which  the  want  of  knowledge  regarding  the  lung 
IDlague  in  the  first  seventeen  hundred  years  of  the  Christian  era  impresses 
upon  us  to-day.  The  wisdom  of  that  conclusion  may  be  demonstrated 
by  tracing  up  the  progress  of  the  malady  from  1G03  to  1869. 

The  first  notice,  that  may  be  declared  less  im satisfactory  than  all  pre- 
ceding ones,  of  the  ravages  produced  by  an  epizootic  bovine  pleuro- 
pneumonia, we  owe  to  Yalentini.*  There  is  a  fact  of  great  importance 
in  relation  to  the  history  and  i)rogress  of  pleuropneumonia  that  writers 

*  Writing  with  l)ut  a  small  selection  of  books  from  my  lil)rary,  I  am  only  in  a  position 
to  give  a  second-hand  reference  to  Valentiui's  observations,  and  their  importance  induces 
me  to  reprodnce  Hensiuger's  quotation:  "Pnecedente  hyeme  pluvioso,  sed  in  line  geli- 
dissimo,  sub  primo  vere  et  insolitus  aeris  fervor  ingruebat,  qualis  et  iwv  omnem  a'statis 
cursum  observabatur ;  quie  mutatio  subitanea  nou  potcrat  uou  iutequalem  et  pra>ter- 
naturalem  humorum  et  siiirituum  motum  causare,  quem  et  hominum  et  brutoruni 
strages  insecuta  est.  Boves  sane  et  vacciB  catervatim  succumbebant,  cujus  rei  causa 
statucbatur  inter  alia  ros  cotTOsivus,  lintea  maculis  plus  minus  lutois  conspurcans,  et 
omnino  corrodcns.  Ex  carnilicumoliscrvatione  plcrunu[iie  plitliisi  pulmonali  ii('("i))an- 
tur,  ad  <iuam  sine  dubio  haustus  frigidiie  copiosior  post  icstum  iuteusissiniuui  niiiltum 
contribucre  potcrat.  n()niinil)us  ])r;cter  dyscntcriani  ct  febrcs  maligna  sub  linciii  .Iimii 
et  initium  Angusti  liic  locorum  infciisa  erat  febris  qua'dam  intermittens,  ut  ])hirimum 
tcrtiana."  Ephem.  Nat.  Cui".  et  Sydeiduim.  opp.  ed  Geneva,  1,  ji.  276 — quoted  in  Ee- 
cherches  de  Pathologic  Comi)aree — Cassel,  1853. 


12  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

jicnorally  have  overlooked.  Valcntiiii's  remarks,  incomplete  as  tliey  are, 
had  beeu  anticipated  by  numerous  reports  concerning  the  spread  of  the 
foot  and  mouth  disease,  or  epizootic  aphtlue,  from  east  to  west.  As 
contagious  cattle  diseases  travel  in  the  lines  of  communication  estab- 
lished by  war  or  trade,  so  do  they  appear  together  or  in  succession 
according  to  their  nature,  the  length  of  their  period  of  incubation,  and 
the  circumstances  under  which  the  movement  of  cattle  is  conducted. 

It  will  serve  to  clear  up  many  points  of  doubt  if  this  point  is  under- 
stood. Epizootic  aphtluv,  or  the  foot  and  mouth  disease,  {Maul  n.  Klanen- 
seiiche  of  the  Germans,)  has  a  short  latent  stage  of  two  or  three  days. 
It  moreover  spreads  to  all  warm  blooded  animals,  so  that  herds  infected 
with  contagious  diseases  might  on  their  travels,  as  they  often  are,  be 
seized  by  tliis  malady,  and  then  the  steppe  murrain  or  rinderpest,  which 
has  a  latent  stage  of  a  week,  or  the  lung  plague  which  remains  latent 
for  a  month,  six  weeks,  or  more,  may  break  out  wherever  signs  of  com- 
munication between  cattle  of  different  parts  have  been  furnished  by 
the  rapidly-evolving  and  curable  aphthiB.  Tlie  poison  of  one  disease 
does  not  counteract  or  prevent  the  accession  of  either  of  the  two  others, 
and  one  animal  may  in  succession  have  the  three  maladies.  In  Ger- 
many, France,  Holland,  and  England,  the  foot  and  mouth  disease  has 
usually  preceded  outbreaks  of  lung  disease  and  even  rinderpest.  In 
America,  this  has  not  been  the  case,  inasmuch  as  the  voyage  across  the 
Athintic  has  usually  been  sufQcient  to  purge  animals  of  the  conta- 
gium  of  epizootic  aphthae,  even  if  they  had  been  shipped  with  the  disease 
on  them,  which  is  not  likely,  from  its  very  obvious  and  rapid  manifest- 
ations. 

It  is  necessary  to  make  one  more  remark  here,  which  may  serve  to 
facilitate  the  accm-ate  reading  of  the  history  of  cattle  plagues.  Although 
the  lung  plague  has  undoubtedly  prevailed  more  constantly,  and  pro- 
duced a  total  mortality  greater  than  that  due  to  the  steppe  murrain, 
nevertheless  the  rapid  slaughter  of  cattle  by  rinderpest  at  once  sets 
peoi)le  to  adopt  repressive  measures,  and,  both  by  killing  and  isolating 
the  di  sease  itself,  tends  to  supersede  other  cattle  plagues.  When  it  enters 
a  country  like  Great  Britain,  where  all  animals  which  had  a  slight  chance 
of  contamination  from  public  markets  were  more  or  less  infected  with 
the  virus  of  lung  plague,  rinderpest  naturally  reached  those  spots  first, 
cleared  the  cattle  out,  and  extinguished  pleuropneumonia. 

Now  we  shall  see  that  the  history  of  the  three  maladies  I  have  alluded 
to  are  in  many  points  practically  inseparable,  so  far  as  their  dissemina- 
tion in  Europe  is  concerned,  and  this  fact  alone  would  suffice  to  induce 
me  to  refer  to  the  American  outbreaks  separately. 

In  ir).S(>-'87  the  foot  and  mouth  disease  was  noticed  in  Silesia  and 
other  ]»aits  of  ICastcrn  l^irope.  In  1<J!)5  Valentini  described  the  coin- 
cident inllanijuation  of  the  feet  of  cattle  and  aphtlue  in  man.*     And 


*  Sub  ajquinoctio  antuiiiii:ili:i,  augusto  decrt'into,  inllaiinuatio  <,niis;ivaniin.  linguae  et 
orisiuhoiuiiiibus,  in  Inutis  vcruni  pedum  intUuuuiatiuuc!s,observavi  liinc  imlc. — Loc.Cit. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  13 

thus  is  it  establislied,  beyond  doubt,  tliat  tlie  influences  operating  in  the 
transmission  of  contagious  pleuropneumonia  were  at  work  then.  Val- 
entini  committed  the  common  error  of  attributing  the  king  plague  to 
the  weather,  but  hfs  reference  to  a  wide-spread  pulmonary  disorder 
among  cattle  is  sufiaciently  distinct  to  warrant  our  dissenting  from  Del- 
afond  when  he  says  that  nothing  can  authorize  the  conclusion  that  the 
disease  described  by  Valentini  was  the  pleuro-pneumonia  which  prevails 
to-day  among  horned  cattle. 

Sauberg,  whose  prize  essay  on  the  lung  plague  is  worthy  of  the  highest 
praise,  draws  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  propagation  westward  of 
the  Eussian  murrain,  at  the  commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
directed  the  attention  of  the  most  learned  naturalists  and  physicians 
to  the  investigation  of  the  plagues  of  animals,  and  thus  a  marked 
influence  was  exerted  in  the  development  of  veterinary  science. 

Kanold,  Steurlin,  Ramazzini,  Lancisi,  Bates,  Lanzoni,  Sebroek, 
Fischer,  Scheuchzer,  Bottani,  Muratori,  Camper,  Haller,  and  numerous 
others,  have  contributed  to  enrich  the  science  of  comparative  pathology 
by  references  to  outbreaks  of  epizootic  aphthiP,  lung  plague,  rinderpest, 
variolous  fevers,  carbuncular  and  other  diseases,  which  committed  great 
havoc  up  to  the  time  that  an  illustrious  Frenchman,  Bourgelat,  resolved 
to  establish  a  college  for  the  education  of  veterinary  surgeons.  All 
references  to  the  contagious  pleuro-pneumonia  are  of  little  practical 
moment  until  we  come  to  the  labors  of  Bourgelat  himself.  He  did  not, 
it  is  true— as  nobody  ever  did— on  first  studying  this  disease,  recognize 
its  contagious  character.  He  met  with  it  in  Franche-Compte,  where  it 
had  been  known  for  years  under  the  name  of  "murie."  He  described  it 
as  distinguished  by  a  short  dry  cough,  much  fever,  great  oppression, 
especially  after  an  animal  has  eaten  anything,  loss  of  appetite,  fetor 
of  breath,  dryness  of  nose,  and  sometimes  discharge  of  thick  whitish 
matter  from  the  nostrils.  His  description  of  the  pleuritic  adhesions, 
the  deposits  of  gelatinous  layers  of  different  colors  around  the  lungs, 
the  lividity  and  engorgement  of  the  lungs,  and  distension  of  the  chest 
by  a  reddish,  frothy,  sanious,  or  purulent  liquid,  is  entirely  satisftictory, 
and  indicates  how  much  in  advance  of  his  times  Bourgelat  was  in  his 
description  of  this  malady.  As  there  has  been  a  disposition  to  revive 
the  treatment  of  the  lung  plague  by  fumigations,  I  may  mention  that, 
among  other  remedies,  Bourgelat  recommended  acetic  acid  to  be  used 
in  this  way. 

The  malady  which  had  thus  stationed  itself  in  France,  had  also  estab- 
lished secure  hold  in  other  parts  of  Europe,  and  we  learn  of  its  preva- 
lence in  1743  in  Zurich  and  the  adjacent  cantons  of  Switzerland.  It 
continued  to  invade  that  country  by  importations  from  the  grand  duchy 
of  Baden,  and  in  1773  the  great  physiologist,  Haller,  published  the 
ablest  memoir  on  this  disease  that  appeared  during  the  eighteenth 
century.*     He  spoke  of  it  as  a  lung  disease,  beginning  as  an  inflanuna- 

*Abhaucllunff  von  tier  Viehseuclie.    Vou  Herru.  Alb.  Haller.    Beru,  1773. 


14  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

tioii,  whit'li  passes  into  gangrene,  or  at  other  times  into  abscess  and  ends 
in  a  true  marasmus.  "It  is  very  wonderful,"  lie  adds,  "that  among 
the  many  modern  physicians  Avho  have  written  ou^this  plague,  which 
has  been  observed  so  generally  and  for  so  long,  that  they  have  not 
noticed  the  seat  of  the  disease  to  be  in  the  lungs."  Haller  determined 
its  cause  and  said,  "o/vore  all,  ice  must  abandon  all  liope  that  the  lung 
disease  is  not  a  contaffions  disease.  *****  At  all  events,  it  is 
certain  that  in  our  land,  as  often  as  the  lung  plague  has  appeared 
among  cattle,  the  origin  of  the  disease  has  always  been  traced  to  the 
purchase  of  an  animal  from  a  suspected  market,  or  to  one  brought 
from  an  infected  district  into  our  land.  At  other  times  our  country 
people  have  fattened  cattle  with  other  cattle  from  infected  parts," 

It  is  hard  to  trace  the  course  of  a  disease  during  periods  when  little 
attention  was  paid  to  comparative  pathology.  From  1774  to  177G  the 
lung  plague  prevailed  in  Istria  and  Dalmatia.*  Epizootic  aphtha?  made 
steady  inroads  from  eastern  Europe  into  Austria  and  other  parts  of  the 
continent.  From  1778  to  1781  pleuro-pneumonia,  no  doubt  very  common 
in  many  countries,  is  specially  referred  to  by  Kauset  and  Orus  as  in 
Silesia  and  Istria.  Its  coiu'se  during  this  and  subsequent  periods  was 
involved  in  much  obscurity,  owing  to  the  more  alarming  outbreaks  of 
rinderpest,  which  absorbed  the  attention  of  scientific  men,  and  also 
tended,  by  the  wholesale  and  rapid  destruction  of  herds,  to  supersede  the 
more  insidious  pleuro-pneumonia.  Huzard  and  Vicq  d'Azyr  studied  the 
malady  in  1791,  and  report  that  in  the  years  1772,  1776,  1780,  1787, 
1789,  1791,  and  1792  it  raged  among  the  milch  cows  of  Paris  and  its 
neighborhood.  Chabert  described  the  malady  in  1793,  and  recognized 
its  contagious  character,  cautioning  people  against  placing  healthy 
cattle  in  communication  with  sick  ones.  loggia  at  that  time  studied 
the  malady  in  Italy,  and  it  prevailed  in  Baden  during  the  years  1787, 
1788,  1792,  1791,  and  1798.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  little  or  nothing 
was  known  of  this  disease,  which  no  doubt  prevailed  in  Eussia  during 
the  last  century ;  and  we  are  left  to  draw  our  own  inference  as  to  its 
prol)able  prevalence  there,  from  indications  of  its  introduction  through 
Poland  to  Prussia,  but  more  frequently  into  Austria,  Wurtemberg, 
Switzerland,  into  northern  Italy  and  France. 

Records  of  outbreaks  during  the  present  century  are  more  satisfac- 
tory. Boganus  studied  the  nudady  in  Lithuania,  and  Jeueu  firsjb  saAV 
it  in  Kussia  in  1821.  Ilaupt  witnessed  it  repeatedly  in  Siberia,  and 
Busse  observed  it  in  the  neighborhood  of  St.  Petersburg  in  1813,  1811, 
1845,  and  1850. 

The  nmlady  invaded  Prussia  from  1802  to  1810,  and  was  described  by 
Sick  in  llud(>li>hi's  Ohscrvaticms  in  Natural  History  and  Medicine, 
])ublishe(l  in  Uerlin,  in  ISOl.  Dieterichs  witnessed  it  from  1815  to  1820, 
and  Nogenfeld  published  in  his  work  on  the  disease,  official  reports  of 


*A  I'liiiti,  sopiii   I'opizooy.iiX  hoviiui  ill  iilnini   lui>nlii  di-lla  Dahuazia.     Moilciia,  1776. 
HciJ.singiT  also  (iiiotcs  nu'iaoirs  of  Orus  and  Lntti. 


THE    LUNG   PLAGUE.  15 

its  manifestations  in  the  Dantzig  district  from  1821  to  1831.  Gielen  saw 
the  lung  plague  in  1832,  at  Blaudenburg,  and  later,  from  1837  to  1843^ 
in  Saclisen.  Sauberg,  whose  prize  essay  I  have  so  often  quoted,  enters 
into  very  minute  details  concerning  the  outbreaks  of  pleuropneumonia 
in  the  Ehine  pro\inces  of  Prussia,  from  1830  to  1840.  Some  idea  of  the 
extent  of  the  losses  he  had  to  report  on  may  be  derived  from  the  fact 
that  in  the  single  district  of  Diisseldorf  ten  thousand  head  of  cattle 
were  lost  from  pleuropneumonia  in  the  eight  years  from  1832  to  1840. 
Gerlach  has  drawn  attention  to  this  subject  in  Prussia  with  peculiar  dili- 
gence since  1835,  and  remarks  that  he  has  watched  personally  so  many 
cases,  in  conjunction  with  historical  researches,  that  he  unhesitatingly 
pronounces  in  favor  of  the  view  that  pleuropneumonia  is  never  devel- 
oped spontaneously. 

The  lung  plag-ue  prevailed  severely  in  Hanover  in  the  years  1807,1808, 
1809,  1810,  1812,  1817,  1818.  In  1819  Hausmann  suggested  and  per- 
formed experiments  in  the  inoculation  of  the  disease,  which  never 
resulted  in  practical  good.  Outbreaks  continued  to  be  recorded  in  Han- 
over at  short  intervals  from  1820  to  1843,  and  it  has  never  been  alto- 
gether free  since. 

The  malady  appeared  in  Saxony  in  1827,  and  has  often  raged  there 
since,  as  shown  in  the  writings  of  Haubner,  and  the  observations  made 
by  Leisering,  &g. 

In  1862  I  made  a  careful  study  of  the  progress  of  pleuro-pneumonia 
towards  the  British  isles  through  Holland,  and  it  is  from  these  two 
countries  that  the  New  World,  Africa,  and  the  Australian  colonies  have 
been  contaminated  within  the  past  quarter  of  a  century. 

The  disease  entered  Holland,  according  to  Numann,  the  director  of 
the  veterinary  school  at  Utrecht,  in  1833,  by  the  importation  of  cattle 
affected  with  the  disease  from  Prussia,  and  purchased  by  a  distiller, 
Yandenbosch,  in  Gelderland,  In  1835  it  was  transmitted  from  Gelder- 
land  to  Utrecht,  thence  into  South  Holland,  and  it  raged  especially  near 
the  great  markets  of  Eotterdam  and  Schiedam.  The  island  of  Zeeland 
then  began  to  suffer  wherever  cattle  were  injudiciously  imported  from 
South  Holland,  and  some  outbreaks  were  attributed  to  infected  cattle 
from  South  Holland,  Xorth  Brabant,  and  West  Flanders.  From  im- 
j)ortations  of  infected  cattle,  the  lung  disease  attacked  the  stock  on  a  few 
farms  scattered  through  the  provinces  of  Drenthe,  Groningen,  and  Over- 
yssel.  It  was  as  late  as  1842  that  Frieslaud  was  attacked.  British  ports 
were  thrown  open  to  the  cattle  trade  by  Sir  Eobert  Peel,  and  the  demands 
of  our  markets  caused  a  rush  of  stock  through  and  from  the  northern 
provinces  of  Holland,  which  infected  them  in  this  year.  The  first  traces 
of  pleuro-pneumonia  were  observed  at  Nejiga  and  Wurms.  The  Dutcli 
government  ordered  the  slaughter  of  nil  the  infected  cattle,  and  Friesland 
again  remained  free  of  the  disease  until  1845.  Then  the  British  trade 
again  increased  ;  cattle  were  passing  from  Overyssel  to  Ilarlingen,  and 
in  the  month  of  December,  1845,  the  malady  appeared  at  St.  Nicolunsga, 


16  DErARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

the  foUowingf  March  at  Minis,  aud  soon  after  at  Eiikhuysen.  Prevention, 
by  slau^^litering  diseased  cattle,  was  enforced;  the  authorities  in  Over- 
yssel  were  asked  to  adopt  siinihir  measures,  that  there  shoukl  be  no  re- 
newed introduction  of  disease  from  that  province.  The  cattle  trade  was 
too  active,  and  no  sooner  was  the  malady  extinguished  in  one  spot  than 
it  appeared  at  others.  In  the  last  half  of  the  year  1847,  the  disease  broke 
out  in  sixteen  stables  in  sixteen  different  districts.  A  last  attempt  was 
made  to  arrest  the  malady,  and  seven  hundred  and  three  sick  or  sus- 
pected animals  were  killed  and  bmied.  Larger  and  larger  did  the  num- 
ber of  infected  stables  become  as  the  cattle  dealers'  movements  increased. 
In  1848  fifty-eight  different  outbreaks  occurred.  By  1863  between  five 
and  six  thousand  out  of  the  fourteen  thousand  stables  in  which  cattle 
are  kept  in  Friesland  had  been  visited  by  the  disease,  and  the  annual 
mortality  rose  from  5.25  per  thousand  in  1850  to  nearly  40  per  thousand. 

It  was  probably  somewhere  between  1839  and  1841  that  some  Dutch 
cattle  were  imported  into  the  county  Cork,  Ireland,  by  gentlemen  related 
to  a  British  consul  at  the  Hague.  This  was  before  the  days  of  free  trade 
in  stock,  and  the  animals  were  introduced  under  some  special  permit. 
Customs  of  this  early  period  have  their  representatives  in  county  Cork  at 
the  present  day,  and  my  inquiries  would  lead  me  to  believe  that  the 
earliest  of  these  importations  were  followed  by  the  manifestations  of 
pleiu'o-pneumonia.  It  spread  from  Cork  into  Limerick  in  1844,  and  thence 
to  Carlow,  Kilkenny,  Tipperary,  Waterford,  Wicklow,  Meath,  Galway, 
and  Eoscommon.  The  losses  in  Ireland  have  been  enormous,  and  indeed 
much  larger  than  in  England  and  Scotland.  The  north  of  Ireland  has 
been  more  free  than  the  south,  but  in  1844  cattle  were  imported  into 
county  Tyrone  from  Glasgow,  communicating  the  disease,  which  con- 
tinued till  1852.  Londonderry  suffered  about  lS49-'50,  and  here  and 
there  in  all  other  counties,  not  excluding  Kerry,  the  introduction  of  the 
malady  by  traveling  or  purchased  cattle  has  occurred. 

AVhile  the  lung  disease  was  thus  lighting  up  in  different  parts  of  Ire- 
laud,  it  was  committing  great  ravages  in  England.  All  the  large  towns 
containing  dairy  cows  suffered.  Speedily  did  the  disease  pass  from 
London  to  IManchester,  and  Birmingham  to  Liverpool,  Leeds,  Shefiield, 
and  Xewcastle.  It  was  in  the  month  of  November,  1843,  that  English 
cattle  carried  the  disease  into  Scotland  at  All-Hallow  Fair,  in  Edinburgh. 
It  speedily  passed  to  Glasgow,  Perth,  and  Aberdeen.  In  1844  it  reached 
Inverness,  on  cattle  taken  there  by  sea.  Thus  the  large  towns  and  their 
vicinities  were  first  affected,  but  no  great  interval  elapsed  before  farms 
were  contaminated.  The  counties  of  Norfolk,  Lincolnshire,  Derbyshire, 
Lancashire,  Yorkshire,  and  Xorthnmbcrland  were  all  affected  by  1844 
and  1845,  It  was  later  that  the  disease  entered  the  breeding  districts  of 
(il()U(;estershire,  Herefordshire,  and  Devon.  Cheshire  lost  early  and 
much.  In  Scotland  it  was  184G  and  1847  before  many  districts  in  such 
counties  as  Lanarkshire  and  Ayrshire  had  the  disease.  It  committed 
great  ravages  in  Wigtown,  Renfrew,  Fife,  Perth,  Kincardine,  and  Aber- 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  17 

deen  sTiires.    It  lias  been  rarely,  and  in  a  few  farms,  in  sncli  counties  as 
Argyle,  Banff,  Inverness,  and  Caithness. 

The  losses  by  pleuropneumonia  have  amounted  during  the  past  seven - 
and-tweuty  years  to  as  high  as  two  millions  pounds  sterling  per  annum, 
in  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  The  best  cattle 
have  been  destroyed,  inasmuch  as  the  breeding  cows  and  young  stocks 
in  breeding  districts  beyond  the  range  of  infection  never  attain  the  value 
of  the  fine  milch  cows  and  fattened  steers  which  exist  in  milk-produc- 
ing and  fattening  districts.  I  prepared  a  table  of  losses  in  88  dairies  in 
the  city  of  Edinburgh,  from  the  1st  of  July,  18G1  to  the  1st  of  July,  18G2, 
and  out  of  1,839  cows,  71)1  were  sold  diseased  to  butchers,  and  L*81  were 
sold  as  food  for  pigs.  The  total  value  of  the  1,075  diseased  animals  when 
first  bought,  at  the  very  moderate  average  of  £13  10s.  each,  is  £14,512  lO.s*. 
There  was  realized  by  their  sale,  calculating  the  value  of  the  791  sold  to 
butchers  at  an  average  of  £5  each,  and  the  281  sold  for  pig-feeding  at 
lO  shillings  each,  the  sum  of  £1,097.  The  net  annual  loss  by  diseased 
cows  in  Edinburgh  alone  was  therefore  £10,115.  Similar  losses  have 
occurred  in  all  other  large  cities,  such  as  Dublin,  London,  Liverpool,  New- 
castle, &c. 

From  England  and  Holland  the  disease  has  been  propagated  far  and 
wide.  In  1817  English  cattle  communicated  pleuro-pneumouia  to  Sweden, 
and  in  1818,  it  appears,  from  Sweden  to  Denmark.  Mr.  E.  Fenger,  a  Dan- 
ish veterinarian,  furnished  me  in  18G2  with  the  following  information  : 
"  As  to  the  appearance  of  this  disease  in  the  kingdom  of  Denmark,  it  is 
an  established  fact  that  it  has  taken  place  only  three  times  upon  three 
different  farms  where  cattle  had  been  introduced  from  abroad.  No  other 
cattle  were  affected  than  those  in  the  three  herds  alluded  to,  and  for 
three  years  no  disease  has  appeared  in  Denmark.  As  to  the  spontaneous 
origin  of  pleuropneumonia,  I  msh  to  draw  your  attention  to  the  fact 
that  it  is  never  seen  in  the  town  of  Copenhagen,  notwithstanding  that 
in  this  place  large  dairies  are  kept  where  the  cows  are  fed  on  draff"  from 
distilleries,  and  are  kept  in  a  state  contrary  to  any  which  sanitary 
rules  might  suggest.  In  the  dukedom  of  Schleswig  the  disease  has  been 
imported  several  times,  and  last  from  England,  and  occasionally  has 
spread  rather  widely.  This  autumn  the  cattle  of  thirty  different  places 
in  Schleswig  have  been  kept  in  a  kind  of  quarantine. 

In  1858  an  agricultural  society  in  Oldenburgli  puchased  some  Ayr- 
shires  to  distribute  among  its  members  for  breeding  purposes.  Wher- 
ever these  animals  went  they  communicated  disease.  Oldenburgli  has  kept 
very  free  from  pleuropneumonia  from  the  activity  with  which  the  infected 
animals  are  destroyed  at  the  outbreak  of  disease.  The  same  remark 
applies  to  Mecklenburg-Schwerin  and  Schleswig-IIolstein.  With  regard 
to  the  latter  province,  it  transpires  that  in  1859  some  Ayrshire  cattle  im- 
ported in  the  vicinity  of  Tondern  communicated  pleuropneumonia. 

In  the  month  of  August,  18G0,  an  agent  of  the  Norwegian  govern- 
ment purchased  a  number  of  Ayrshire  cattle;  they  were  taken  to  the 
2 


18  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Royal  Afrricultuiiil  College  at  Aas,  jind  in  the  comniencement  of  Novem- 
ber pleuro-piieuinouia  broke  out  amonji-  them.  Dr.  Ohif  Tliesen  has 
intormed  me  that  he  limited  the  disease  to  the  college,  by  destroying  the 
native  cattle  with  which  the  Ayrshire  stock  had  come  in  contact,  and 
keeping  the  Ayrshire  animals  to  themselves.  Is^orway  had  been  exempt 
from  this  cattle  plague,  and  owing  to  Professor  Thesen's  activity  it  now 
enjoys  the  same  immunity. 

In  the  month  of  Sei)tember,  1858,  Mr.  Boodle,  farmer,  near  Melbourne, 
imported  a  cow  from  England;  she  landed  in  good  condition  and  gave 
milk.  She  died  of  pleuropneumonia  six  weeks  after  her  arrival.  Two 
other  head  of  cattle  belonging  to  Mr.  Boodle  died  in  December  and 
another  in  January.  The  disease  continued  to  s])read,  and  the  losses 
have  been  enormous  and  almost  incessant  in  Victoria  and  even  in  New 
South  AVales. 

HISTORY   OF   THE  LUNG  PLAGUE   IN  A:MERICA. 

The  first  notice  of  the  lung  plague  in  the  United  States  dates  back  to 
1843,  when  a  German  cow,  imported  direct  from  Europe,  and  taken  from 
shipboard  into  a  Brooklyn  cattle  shed,  communicated  the  disease,  which, 
it  is  said  and  believed,  has  prevailed  more  or  less  in  Kings  county.  Long 
Island,  ever  since. 

In  1847  Mr.  Thomas  Richardson,  of  New  Jersey,  imported  some  Eng- 
lish stock.  Signs  of  disease  were  noticed  soon,  and  the  wliole  of  Mr. 
Richardson's  stock,  valued  at  $10,000,  were  slaughtered  by  him  to  pre- 
vent an  extension  of  the  i)lague. 

In  1850  a  fresh  supply  of  the  lung-plague  poison  reached  Brooklyn 
from  England  in  the  system  of  an  imported  cow. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Chenery,  of  Belmont,  Massachusetts,  has  related  the  his- 
tory of  the  introduction  of  lung  plague  from  Holland  into  Massachu- 
setts in  1850.  Four  cows  were  purchased  for  him  at  Purmerend  and 
Beemster,  shipped  at  Rotterdam  early  in  April  on  board  the  bark  J.  C. 
numi)hreys,  which  ariived  in  America  on  the  L'.Ul  of  May,  1850.  Two 
of  the  cows  were  driven  to  Belmont;  the  ctther  two  had  to  be  trans- 
ported on  wagons,  owingtotheir  "extremely  bad  condition,"  one  of  them 
*'  not  having  been  on  her  feet  during  the  twenty  days  preceding  her  arri- 
val." On  the  .'ilst  of  May,  it  being  deemed  impossible  that  this  cow 
could  recover,  she  was  slaughtered,  and  on  the  iM  of  .June  following  the 
second  cow  died.  Tlie  third  cow  sickened  on  the  iMHli  of  June,  and  died 
in  ten  days.  The  fourth  continued  in  a  thriving  condition.  A  Dutch 
cow,  imi)()rted  in  1852,  was  the  next  one  observed  ill,  early  in  the  month 
of  August  following,  and  she  succumbed  on  the  20th.  "  Several  other 
aninnds  were  taken  sick  in  rapid  succession,  ami  then  it  was  that  the 
idea  w^as  first  advanced  that  the  disease  was  identical  with  that  known 
in  Europe  as  epizoiitic  pleuropneumonia."  Mr.  Chenery  then  <lid  all  in 
his  power  to  ])revent  the  spread  of  disease  from  his  farm.     Tiie  last 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  19 

case  at  the  Higliland  farm,  Bolinoiit,  occurred  on  the  8th  of  January, 
18G0. 

In  June,  18.59,  Curtis  Stothhird,  of  North  Brookflehl,  bought  three 
young  cattle,  one  bull  and  two  heifers,  from  Mr.  Cheuery.  One  calf 
showed  signs  of  sickness  on  the  way  home.  Leonard  Stoddard,  father 
of  Curtis,  thinking  he  could  better  treat  this  sick  calf,  took  it  to  his  own 
barn,  where  he  had  forty-eight  head,  exclusive  of  calves,  and  with  which 
the  calf  mingled.  One  animal  after  another  was  attacked,  till  the  12th 
of  April,  Avlien  thirteen  head  had  died,  and  most  of  the  remainder  were 
sick.  The  disease  continued  to  spread  from  farm  to  farm  as  rapidly 
as  circumstances  favored  the  admixture  of  stock.  The  period  of  incu- 
bation in  well-defined  cases  varied  from  nineteen  to  thirty-six  days,  and 
averaged  twenty-six  and  two-thirds  days. 

The  people  of  Massachusetts,  a  little  slow  at  first,  overcame  the  delays 
incident  to  legislation,  established  a  commission  for  the  purpose  of  exter- 
minating the  disease,  and  an  appropriation  of  $10,000  was  placed  under 
the  control  of  the  commissioners  on  the  4th  of  April,  1860.  The  disease 
was  gaining  ground  rapidly,  and  a  bill  to  extirpate  the  disease  passed 
its  sev^eral  stages  and  was  approved  on  the  same  day.  Commissioners 
were  appointed;  herds  were  examined  by  surgeons,  and,  if  infected, 
slaughtered;  the  animals  pronounced  healthy  at  the  time  of  inspection 
were  paid  for;  all  the  money  appropriated  was  spent,  and  such  was  the 
feeling  then  in  Massachusetts  that  private  gentlemen  made  themselves 
responsible  for  a  second  amount  of  nearly  $20,000.  An  extra  session  of 
the  legislature  met  on  the  13th  of  May.  Fresh  powers  were  sought  and 
obtained,  additional  commissioners  were  appointed,  and  the  disease  was 
apparently  exterminated.  It  reappeared  in  18G1,  a  new  board  of  commis- 
sioners was  appointed,  and  further  successful  efibrts  were  made  to  prevent 
the  disease.  On  the  24th  of  December,  1803,  Mr.  Cliarles  L.  Flint,  in  a 
letter  to  Governor  Andrew,  asserted  that  pleuro-pneumonia  still  existed 
in  twelve  or  fifteen  towns  of  the  commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
E.  T.  Thayer,  to  whom  the  i^eople  of  Massachusetts  owe  much  for  his 
skill  and  industry  as  the  veterinary  commissioner,  and  Mr.  Charles  P 
Preston,  wrote  their  final  report  to  the  senate  and  house  of  re])resenta- 
tives  of  Massachusetts  on  the  30th  of  December,  18G7.  In  that  report, 
in  tendering  their  resignations  to  the  governor,  they  congratulate  the 
people  on  the  success  which  had  been  insured  by  efiicient  co-operation 
''in  eradicating  one  of  the  worst  forms  of  contagious  disease  which  has 
been  found  among  cattle," 

From  n  umcrous  inipiiries  there  is  not  the  slightest  doubt  in  my  mind  that 
the  lung  disease  has  continued,  ever  since  its  first  introduction,  to  attack 
some  of  the  numerous  dairies  on  Long  Island.  One  of  the  best  informed 
dairymen  in  Brooklyn  informed  me  that,  three  months  after  starting  in 
business  sixteen  years  ago,  he  h)st  eleven  out  of  twelv^e  cows  he  had 
I)urchased  in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  lie  bought  more  and  began  to 
inoculate  with  excellent  results.     Other  people  were  losing,   and   he 


20  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

estaltlislu'd  liiiiiscir  on  .Taniaicii  Poiid  to  be  cU-ar  of  every  one.  When 
lie  stopped  inoeulating"  the  disease  reappeared.  Mr.  Benjamin  Babbit, 
of  Lafayette  avenue,  was  the  first  to  inocnhite  after  the  introduction 
of  this  practice  in  Ii^urope,  and  many  dairymen  adopted  it.  The  board 
of  health  ()pi)0sed  the  practice,  as  many  of  tlije  cows  lost  portions  of  the 
tail,  and  reports  were  made  of  blood  and  matter  findino-  their  way  into  the 
milk-pail.  The  disease  has  never  ceased,  and  I  have  visited  many  dairies, 
in  all  of  which  at  one  time  or  another,  and  in  most  of  which  during  the 
present  year,  the  disease  has  prevailed.  In  five  dairies  I  examined,  within 
one  hundred  yards  of  each  other,  I  found  one  or  two  sick  cows  in  each. 
The  Hartford  Insurance  Company,  which  has  recently  suspended  opera- 
tions, lost  heavily  on  the  insurance  of  cows  from  the  prevalence  of  this 
disease,  and  that  company  objected  also  to  the  practice  of  inoculation. 

From  Mr.  Bedell's  statement,  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  existeiu;e  of  the 
contagious  pleuropneumonia  in  New  Jersey  when  he  first  bought  his 
cattle.  Mr.  Eobert  Jennings,  veterinary  surgeon,  had  his  attention 
drawn  to  the  disease  on  its  appearance  in  Camden  and  Gloucester  coun- 
ties, Kew  Jersey,  in  the  year  ISoi).  In  ISGO  it  crossed  the  Delaware 
river  into  Philadelphia,  spreading  very  rapidly  in  all  directions,  parti(;- 
ularly  in  the  southern  section  of  the  county  known  as  "  The  :Neck" — 
many  of  the  dairymen  losing  from  one-third  to  one-half  of  their  herds. 
The  sale  of  sick  cattle  continued,  as  it  always  does,  unless  prevented  by 
rigid  laws.  In  18G1  the  malady  appeared  in  Delaware,  and  in  Burling- 
ton county,  New  Jersey,  and  the  disease  could  be  distinctly  traced  to  the 
Philadelphia  market. 

The  records  of  outbreaks  are  by  no  means  satisfactory,  but  a  gentle- 
man well  known  in  Maryland,  Mr.  Martin  Goldsborough,  informs  me  that 
the  malady  has  been  very  destructive  on  many  farms  of  that  State  for  the 
past  three  years.    Individuals  have  lost  their  entire  herds,  in  some  cases 
numbering  twenty-four,  thirty,  and  as  high  as  forty-seven  head.   Last  year 
an  eft'ort  was  made  to  direct  the  attention  of  the  legislature  of  Maryland  to 
the  subject,  with  a  view  to  the  adoption  of  successful  measures,  but  with- 
out effect.     Mr.  Goldsborough's  statement  is  to  the  effect  that  the  disease 
in  Maryland  is  due  to  the  purchase  of  cattle  in  the  Philadelphia,  umrket. 
There  is  no  doubt  of  the  great  prevalence  of  the  malady  for  some  years 
in  Pennsylvania.     I  have  seen  it  on  two  ffirms  in  Delaware  couuty,  and 
it  has  been  on  several  others  recently.     Bucks  county  has  suffered  nuich 
for  two  years.    A  correspondent  informs  me  that  in  March,  1807,  a  drove  ot 
cows  was  taken  into  that  county,  and  one  of  them  was  observed  to  be  sick. 
These  aniunds  were  distributed  among  the  farmers,  and  soon  the  plague 
appeared  in  all  directions.     An  effort  was  made  then  to  secure  the  aid  of 
the  State  legislature,  M'ithout  effect,  and  to  this  day  the  disease  is  in 
Bucks  (;ounty.    The  last  case  I  have  to  report  is  at  Newtown,  Bucks 
county,  where  the  disease  was  introduced  by  cows  bought  in  the  Phil- 
adelphia market. 
That  the  malady  has  attained  such  proportions  as  to  demand  constant 


THE    LUXG    PLAGUE.  21 

attention,  apart  from  the  fact  tliat  but  one  case  on  the  whok>  continent 
is  a  source  of  incah'uhible  danf;:er,  is  proved  by  a  circuhir  recently  issued 
by  gentlemen  in  Westchester,  Pennsylvania,  and  which  is  of  sufficient 
importance  to  be  reproduced  here : 

rieitro-pticnmnnia. — The  great  increase  in  the  disease  known  as  plenro-pnonnionia 
among-  cattle  within  a  few  years  past,  its  highly  contagions  character,  and  the  acknow- 
ledged inability  of  the  most  skillful  veterinary  snrgeons  to  control  or  in  the  least  miti- 
gate its  severity  in  certain  stages  of  the  disease,  calls  for  immediate  and  (^arnest  atten- 
tion from  the  commuuity.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  cupidity  of  many  induces 
them  as  soon  as  the  disease  develops  itself  on  their  premises  to  hurry  off  their  stock 
(diseased  as  well  as  those  not  diseased)  to  the  nearest  drove-yard,  to  he  there  sold  for 
whatever  they  will  bring  ;  to  be  either  sold  as  food  or  driven  off  to  new  sections,  and 
there  to  infect  and  poison  other  animals  with  which  they  may  come  in  contact. 

With  the  view  of  arresting  this  increasing  and  wide-spreading  evil,  the  undersigned, 
a  committee  of  the  "Mutual  Live  Stock  Insurance  Company  of  Chester  county,"  au 
institution  established  purely  for  mutual  assistance  and  protection,  respectfully  invite 
yoiir  co-operation  in  procuring  snch  action  at  the  hands  of  onr  next  legislatiire,  by  the 
passage  of  a  law  authorizing  the  appointment  of  a  suitable  number  of  qualified  and  con- 
scientious inspectors  throughout  the  State,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  examine  thoroughly 
all  animals,  especially  those  offered  for  sale,  wherever  they  may  be;  and  subjecting 
those  offering  snch  diseased  animals  to  both  fine  and  imprisonment,  and  to  take  such 
other  measures  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  effect  the  entire  extirpation  of  the  dis- 
ease from  our  midst. 

I  can  corroborate  the  statements  made  as  to  the  sale  of  cattle  that  are 
infected.  I^ot  only  has  this  occurred  often  where  the  disease  has  been 
most  rife  for  years  past,  as  on  Long  Island,  but  recently,  in  making 
inquiries  in  Delaware  county,  Pennsylvania,  I  learned  of  three  cows 
which  had  been  sold  "  healthy"  (?)  out  of  an  infected  herd.  Such  a  prac- 
tice explains  the  progress  of  the  disease  even  further  south  than  Maryland. 

I  have  been  informed  that  the  malady  has  traveled  as  far  west  as 
Kentucky  and  Ohio,  but  of  this  I  have  not  been  enabled  in  the  brief  time 
since  I  commenced  the  inquiry  to  obtain  satisfactory  evidence.  I  have 
taken  some  pains  to  ascertain  if  the  disease  had  reappeared  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  personal  inquiries  in  various  i^arts  of  the  State  show  that 
it  is  quite  free  from  the  disease,  thanks  to  the  energy  of  its  people  and 
the  enlightened  action  of  its  legislature. 

The  conclusions  that  are  warranted  by  the  facts  1  have  gleaned  are  as 
follows: 

First.  That  the  lung  plague  in  cattle  exists  on  Long  Island,  where  it 
has  prevailed  for  many  years  ;  that  it  is  not  uncommon  in  New  Jersey ; 
has  at  various  times  appeared  in  New  York  State ;  continues  to  be  very 
prevalent  in  several  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  especially  in  Delaware  and 
Bucks;  has  injured  the  farmers  of  Maryland,  the  dairymen  around  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  lias  penetrated  into  Virginia. 

Second.  That  the  disease  trav(^ls  wherever  sick  cattle  are  introduced, 
and  that  the  great  cattle-rearing  States  of  the  west,  which  may  not  at 
present  be  entirely  free  from  the  disease,  have  been  protected  by  the  fact 
that  they  sell  rather  than  buy  an<l  import  horned  stock. 

Third.  There  are  no  proper  restrictions  on  the  sale  of  infected  stock, 


22  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

niid  in  iiiiotlicr  year  or  two,  unless  some  dolinite  and  immediate  aetion 
shall  be  taken,  the  disease  is  likely  to  Uiul  its  way  into  so  many  parts  of 
the  country  that  its  eradication  will  be  almost  a  matter  of  impossibility. 

Of  all  the  cattle  diseases  pleuropneumonia  is  in  the  lonj?  run  the  most 
destructive,  because  the  most  insidious  and  the  least  likely  to  rouse  a 
people  to  united  action  for  its  eftectual  suppression.  To  ignore  its  pres- 
ence is,  however,  to  insure  that  the  cattle  mortality  of  America,  like 
that  of  England,  will  be  at  least  doubled  within  a  few  years.  Rational 
means,  energetic  action,  and  earnest  co-operation  between  the  diiferent 
States  and  the  central  government,  may,  with  a  moderate  expenditure 
now,  save  many  millions  annually  in  the  not  distant  future. 

For  three  years  past  the  city  of  Washington,  and,  indeed,  the  whole 
District  of  Cohimbia,  with  adjoining  parts  of  Maryland  and  Virginia, 
have  been  seriously  affected  with  the  lung  plague.  It  is  gleaned  from 
the  contractors  who  clean  the  city  of  the  carcases  of  dead  animals,  that 
it  is  not  uncommon  to  have  several  dead  cows  in  a  day  from  the  Wash- 
ington dairies;  that  a  dozen  a  week  has  not  been  unusual,  during  cer- 
tain seasons,  and  that  the  supply  is  constant.  Unfortunately,  as  in  other 
cities  of  America  and  Europe,  the  prevalence  of  j^leuro- pneumonia  results 
in  a  wholesale  traffic  in  such  animals.  Sick  cows  are  sold  to  butchers,  and 
if  in  good  condition  command  thirty  to  sixty  dollars;  others  that  are 
too  lean  are  taken  in  the  early  stage,  mixed  with  other  stock,  and  sent 
by  railroad  to  Baltimore,  to  he  sold  as  stock  cows  to  farmers.  In  fact, 
the  active  and  unremittent  traffic  in  sick  cattle  insures  that  Washington, 
the  neighborhood  of  Alexandria,  in  Virginia,  and  Baltimore,  will  continue 
to  be  great  breeding  centers  of  pleuropneumonia.  Some  idea  of  the  heavy 
losses  in  the  Washington  district  may  be  gleaned  from  an  annexed  table, 
prepared  by  a  Washington  dairyman.  (See  appendix  at  close  of  this 
report.) 

SIGNS  OR  SYMPTOMS  DURING  LIFE. 

It  is  necessary  to  draw  special  attention  to  the  fact  that  in  States  or 
on  farms  where  the  lung  plague  has  never  before  existed  it  is  the  more 
readily  recognized,  in  the  earlier  stages,  as  in  case  of  other  epizocitics, 
the  more  complete  the  history.  The  fact  that  cattle  have  been  recently 
purchased,  or  that  drift  cattle  have  crossed  the  farm  or  prairie,  the 
knowledge  of  tha  existence  of  such  a  disease  in  adjoining  States  or 
farms,  or  of  sick  cattle  being  sold  by  auctions  or  in  the  markets,  are  all 
most  im])ortant  elements  in  guiding  to  a  correct  conclusion  as  to  the 
nature  of  the  disease. 

Very  frequently  an  animal  is  bought,  placed  among  others,  dies,  and 
the  remaining  cattle  cough,  get  out  of  condition,  and  some  soon  sicken. 
The  ])uichased  animal  may  show  no  signs  of  illness  however;  it  may  be 
sutfering  IVom  a  latent  form  of  the  disease,  or  it  may  be  in  the  convales- 
cent btage,  antl  gaining  tlesh  daily. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  23 

A  dairyman,  especially  in  a  large  town,  may  have  bad  pleuro-pneumo- 
nia  among-  liis  cattle,  which  had  subsided,  and  his  stock,  composed  of 
animals  that  had  withstood  the  disease,  might  be  regarded  as  healthy. 
But  some  still  discharge  a  degree  of  poison  and  infect  the  atmospliere, 
and  a  newly  bought  animal  dates  the  period  of  the  incubation  of  the 
malady  from  the  moment  it  entered  the  stable. 

The  incubation  of  the  disease  may  be  said  to  vary  from  eight  or  nine 
days  to  three  or  four  months.  In  the  inoculated  malady  the  exudation 
commences  sometimes  as  early  as  the  fifth  day,  more  commonly  about 
the  ninth  or  twelfth,  and  it  may  be  as  late  as  thirty  and  forty  days.  In 
the  disease  communicated  by  cohabitation  a  cough,  to  which  very  special 
attention  was  drawn  by  the  experiments  of  the  French  commission  on 
contagion,  supervenes  about  the  ninth  day  and  later.  It  is  usually 
noticed  by  cow-feeders,  who  buy  cows  which  have  just  calved,  that  they 
drop  with  the  disease  about  the  time  they  should  manifest  oestrum,  that 
is  to  say,  six  weeks  after  their  admission. 

There  are  false  and  true  periods  of  incubation  of  the  lung  plague, 
and  this  has  been  overlooked  too  much  in  descriptions  of  the  disease. 
The  actual  incubation  is  from  the  period  of  contamination,  by  contact  or 
inoculation,  to  the  moment  that  a  special  morbid  change  commences. 
Our  means  of  observation  have  not  been  exact  enough,  and  it  is  very 
desirable  thatthermometric  observations  should  be  made  on  experimental 
animals,  and  these,  with  the  ordinary  phenomena  derived  by  auscultation , 
&c.,  will  assure  us  of  the  actual  length  of  the  stage  of  the  lung  disease 
which  is  unattended  by  any  appreciable  sign.  We  shall  then  know  the 
true  period  of  incubation.  The  false  periods  of  incubation  are  those 
derived  by  persons  from  observing  an  animal  to  sicken,  say  four  months 
after  purchase,  and  drawing-  the  conclusion  that  that  represents  the  in- 
cubation stage.  As  a  rule  in  such  a  case  two  or  three  latent  instances 
of  the  disease  have  preceded  the  obvious  one.  Then,  again,  the  period  of 
incubation  is  not  usually  stated  correctly  by  farmers,  as  they  overlook 
the  first  signs  of  the  disease,  which  occur  several  days  before  cessation 
of  appetite,  secretion  of  milk,  &c. 

Invasion  of  the  huig  plague  is  characterized  by  local  phenomena  which 
most  fre(iuently  sliow  themselves  by  the  cough  already  referred  to. 
With  one  of  Casella's  self-registering  thermometers  it  will  be  found  that 
in  an  infected  herd  some  animal  or  animals  in  apparent  health,  which  no 
one  suspects  to  be  diseased,  will  manifest  a  temperature  of  104°  or  105° 
Fahrenheit.  I  have  never  seen  a  case  in  which,  when  the  teinijerature 
was  thus  elevated,  I  could  not  detecit  friction  sounds,  loud  respiratory 
murmurs,  especially  at  the  lower  part  of  the  trachea-  and  involving  one 
lung".  It  is  not  a  little  remarkable  to  notice  the  want  of  faith  of  some 
persons  who  watch  the  separation  of  such  cattle,  with  great  doubt  as  to 
the  correctness  of  the  observation.  In  rinderpest  the  elevation  of  tem- 
perature occurs  before  all  other  signs,  and  to  a  less  marked  extent  this 
is  the  same  with  splenic  fever;  but  in  iileuro-pneumonia  there  is  reason 


24 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


to  boliovo  that  acute  observation  would  reveal  first  the  local  change 
and  then  the  fever. 

In  order  to  show  the  value  of  the  thermometer  in  this  disease,  I  sub- 
join the  observations  made  by  nu'  on  two  herds  of  cows  sutterinj;  from  it, 
and  which  1  inoculated  on  the  liOth  of  February,  1SG9,  at  Alexandria: 


Mil.  HKTD.s   COWS. 

No.  rahrciilicit. 

1 101.5 

2 iin.8 

•  -A 102.G 

4 101.4 

5 101 

6 102.2 

7 102 

8 101.8 

9 102 

10 102.8 

11 105. 2 

12 101.4 

13 101.3 

14 103 

15 100. 6 

16 101.8 

17 102.  2 

18 101.8 

19 102.6 

20 101 


■sin.  I5IEMULLERS   COWS. 

Xo.                                                                 T'uliroiiheit. 
1 101.4 


2. 
3. 
4. 


102 
102 
101 


5 101.6 

(; 102.3 

7 102 

8 •  101.8 

9 104.4 

10 102.6 

11 101 

12 102 

13 101.6 

14 105. 6 

15 103.6 

16 101.3 

17 101 

18 101.3 

19 104.4 

20 102. 2 

21 : 101 


Of  Eeid's  cows,  Nos.  11  and  14  were  sick,  and  of  Biemiiller's,  :N^os.  9, 14, 
15,  and  19.  Some  doubt  exists  as  to  No.  19;  I  had  not  opportunity  of 
seeing  her  again.  Mr.  Eeid  thiidvs  she  might  have  been  at  heat,  but 
from  the  indications,  however  slight,  associated  with  the  elevation  of 
temperature,  I  believe  it  was  one  of  the  numerous  latent  cases  which  the 
thermometer  alone  reveals  to  us.  Nos.  14  and  15  were  in  the  earliest 
stage  of  the  malady,  and  both  grew  worse,  suttered  for  three  weeks,  and 
then  recovered. 

OBVIOUS  PREMONITORY  SIGNS. 

The  obvious  iiremonitory  signs  are  shivering  fits,  as  in  ordinary  fever, 
but  their  transient  and  mild  character  lead  to  their  often  being  passed 
unnoticed.  TIu'  animal's  coat  h>oks  dnll,  staring,  and  the  skin  is  often 
rigid.  An  occasional  cough  of  a  «lry  and  harsh  character  is  noticed, 
and,  when  insi>ecting  a  herd  in  a  field,  if  the  cattle  are  made  to  move 
briskly,  several  will  be  found  to  cough.  For  some  days  the  cattle  appear 
to  thrive  well,  and  milch  cows  yield  a  copious  amount  of  milk.  It  has 
been  renmrked  that  they  appear  full— indeed  fuller  in  the  early  morning 
than  other  animals  which,  like  them,  had  not  fed  since  the  previous 
evening.     The  exeicment  is  drv  and  urine  s(»nu>what  scanty. 


TEE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  25 

An  expert  dairymaid  in  the  liabit  of  milking'  cows  where  tlie  disease 
prevails  is  apt  to  notice,  as  tlie  malady  declares  itself,  that  there  is  some 
stiffness,  and  the  milk  is  not  so  freely  drawn  as  nsual.  The  quantity  of 
this  secretion  then  diminishes. 

The  progress  of  the  malady  is  then  characterized  by  loss  of  appetite, 
altered  gait,  segregation  of  the  sick  from  the  healthy  in  the  field,  the  sick 
standing  with  their  elbows  turned  outward,  their  feet  drawn  forward, 
neck  and  head  extended,  and  nostrils  somewhat  convulsively  expanded 
at  each  inspiration.  There  is  qnickness  of  breathing,  especially  if  the 
animal  is  even  slightly  disturbed,  and  on  the  slightest  movement  there 
is  an  audible  grunt.  The  expression  of  countenance  indicates  uneasiness 
or  absolnte  pain,  and  the  eyes  are  prominent  and  fixed.  The  pulse  rises 
to  seventy,  eighty,  and  even  one  hundred  beats  per  minnte.  In  hot  cow 
sheds  the  pulse  is  more  frequent  than  in  the  open  field  in  healthy  cattle, 
and  a  corresponding  increase  is  seen  in  this  disease  nnder  similar  cir- 
cumstances. The  respirations  rise  to  thirty-five  and  forty  per  minute, 
are  labored,  andible,  and  each  expiration  is  often  associated  with  a  short 
characteristic  grunt.  This  grunt  is  especiallj'  marked  if  the  sides  of  the 
chest  or  the  spine  are  pressed;  and  many  years  ago  Lecoq  showed  that 
graziers  regarded  this  as  a  decisive  symptom  of  the  malady.  A  some- 
what watery  discharge  from  the  nose,  increased  in  the  act  of  conghing, 
is  noticed  early  in  the  disease,  and  driving  sick  cattle  in  the  earliest  stage 
produces  mnch  thirst,  and  there  is  a  ropy  saliva  discharged  from  the 
mouth.     The  nnizzle  is  hot  and  dry. 

Cattle  suffering  from  this  disease  are  readily  identified  as  it  advances 
by  persons  having  seen  a  few  cases.  They  stand  motionless,  with  pro- 
truding head,  arched  back,  extended  fore  limbs,  with  elbows  turned  as 
far  out  as  they  can  be  held,  and  the  hind  limbs  drawn  nnder  them,  with 
knuckling  at  the  near  hind  or  both  hind  fetlocks.  When  lying,  especially 
in  the  latter  stages  of  the  disease,  they  rest  on  their  brisket  or  lie  on  the 
affected  side,  leaving-  the  ribs  on  the  healthy  side  of  the  chest  as  mnch 
freedom  of  motion  as  possible. 

As  the  disease  advances  the  pulse  gets  more  frequent  and  feeble,  and 
the  heart's  beats,  which  are  at  first  snbdned,  become  marked  and  palpi- 
tating, as  in  cases  of  poverty  or  antiemia.  The  membranes  of  the  eyes, 
mouth,  and  vagina  are  usually  pallid,  though  the  membrane  of  the  nose 
is  often  red.  The  tongue  is  foul,  covered  with  fur,  and  the  exhaled 
breath  has  a  nauseous  and  even  fetid  odor. 

Listlessness,  grunting,  grinding  of  teeth,  diminished  secretions,  Aveak- 
ness  and  emaciation,  iiK^rease  with  the  progress  of  the  malady.  Tlie 
animals  getting  weak,  lie  more.  They  sometimes  show  symptoms  of 
jaundice,  have  a  tendency  to  hove  or  tympanitis  from  gases  accumuhiting- 
in  the  i)annch,  and  their  gait  is  so  staggering  that  they  ai)pear  to  suffer 
from  ])artial  paralysis  of  the  hind  quarters.  As  all  tliese  aggravated 
symptoms  declare  themselves  the  i)ulsegets  weak,  and  often  rises  to  one 
bundled  and  twenty  per  minute;  the  breathing  gets  more  freque-nt  and 


26  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

labDicd;  till'  aiiiinal  ^asps  for  breath.  Tlie  spasmodic  action  of  the 
nostrils  is  very  marked,  the  <?riint  very  audible,  and  there  is  a  peculiar 
puckerin<;-  of  the  angles  of  the  mouth.  The  temperature,  which  is  ele- 
vated during-  the  acute  stage  of  the  disease,  is  irregularly  up  and  down, 
according  to  the  comidicationsof  the  disease,  and  there  is  great  tendency 
to  coldness  of  the  horns  and  extremities.  Abortion  is  not  an  uncommon 
accident.  The  constipation,  which  is  a  very  common  symptom  of  the 
lung  disease,  is  a])t  to  be  followed  by  diarihea  in  the  later  stages,  and 
this  is  also  associated  with  a  considerable  discharge  of  clear-colored 
urine. 

Auscultation  and  percussion  are  valuable  aids  in  the  diagnosis  of  lung 
plague.  Most  persons  can,  with  a  little  care,  distinguish  the  sick  from 
healthy  cattle  by  listening  to  the  sides  of  the  chest.  It  does  not  require 
a  skillful  expert  to  recognize  that  the  ribs  are  motionless  and  flattened 
over  the  consolidated  lung,  that  there  is  an  absence  of  resonance  on 
striking  the  ribs  over  the  affected  region,  and  that  the  ear  distinguishes 
a  very  distinct  respiratory  murmur  wherever  the  lung  is  pervious,  and 
an  absence  of  this  sound  where  the  lung  is  transformed  into  a  solid  mass. 

At  an  early  stage  of  pleuropneumonia  there  is  a  harsh  sound,  roar,  or 
rhonchus,  produced  by  the  passage  of  air  through  the  windpipe  and  its 
subdivisions.  This  varies  in  intensity  in  different  cases,  as  some  animals 
have  more  exudation  on  the  mucous  surface  of  the  air  passage  than 
others,  and  the  leathery-looking  shreds  of  lymph  adhering  to  the  inflamed 
membrane  vibrate  as  the  air  rushes  past  them  and  give  rise  to  the  harsh 
sound  which  may  sometimes  be  heard  by  persons  standing  by  a  sick  ani- 
mal. In  many  cases  one  lung  alone  is  affected,  and  then  the  respiratory 
murmur  is  more  distinct  than  in  health,  wherever  the  lung  tissue  is  per- 
vious, whereas  there  is  a  total  absence  of  sound  over  the  consolidated 
organ.  Occasionally  an  air  passage  remains  open  through  a  mass  of 
hardened  lung,  and  the  air  rushing  through  this  rigid  bronchial  tube 
makes  a  very  decided  whistling  noise. 

In  the  earliest  stages  of  pleuropneumonia  the  deposit  of  lymph  on  the 
serous  covering  of  the  ribs  and  lungs  produces  a  leathery-friction  sound, 
and  as  liquid  accumulates  in  one  or  both  cavities  of  the  chest  the  respira- 
tory murniur  is  lost  towards  the  lower  part  of  the  affected  side  or  sides, 
and  it  is  alone  distinct  over  the  upper  i)ortions  of  pervious  lung  tissue. 

A  careful  examination  of  the  cliest  reveals  day  by  day  the  progress  of 
the  disease.  AVlieu  one  buig  is  attected  an  animal  is  much  more  likely 
to  recover  than  when  both  are  diseased.  Portions  of  the  diseased  lung- 
tissue  are  apt  to  die,  ami  becoming  detached  or  softened,  produce  cavi- 
ties in  the  lungs,  whicli  are  indicated  by  a  cavernous  rale  or  sound  some- 
what similar  to  that  produced  by  blowing  air  in  tiie  hollow  of  the  hands 
when  closed  against  each  other. 

By  careful  auscultation  the  cases  that  tend  to  convalescence  nmy  be 
distinguished  by  less  marked  roughness  in  the  inspirations,  and  a  gradual 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  27 

tlioug'li  slow  return  of  the  respiratory  murmur,  with  increased  mobility 
of  the  ribs  and  easier  movement  of  the  flanks. 

TERMINATION. 

Cases  of  lung  diseases  in  cattle  end  in  partial  or  complete  restoration 
to  health,  or  death  by  prostration,  suffocation,  purulent  fever,  or  hectic. 

As  a  rule,  when  a  herd  of  cattle  has  suifered  from  the  contagious 
pleuro-pnenmonia,  the  surviving  animals,  whenever  slaughtered,  show 
old  adhesions,  partial  collapse  of  the  lung  tissue,  atrophy  or  wasting  of 
the  lung,  thickness  of  the  heart's  covering  or  pericardium,  and  sometimes 
chronic  abscess.  Complete  recovery  without  leaving  the  slightest  traces 
of  pre-existing  lesion  occurs,  It  has  been  noticed  that  cattle  that  have 
once  had  pleuropneumonia  fatten  more  readily  than  others. 

Death  supervenes  during  the  acute  attacks  of  the  disease  from  shock, 
prostration,  or  gradual  suffocation.  When  animals  linger  on  for  some 
time  in  the  bloodless  state  peculiar  to  this  disease,  and  which  is  mainly 
due  to  the  great  drain  on  the  system  by  the  immense  discharge  which 
occurs  in  the  substance  of  the  lung  and  cavities  of  the  chest,  a  perma- 
nent impairment  of  the  functions  of  nutrition  or  assimilation  occurs, 
and  although  the  appetite  may  be  partially  restored,  emaciation  advances, 
and  the  animal  sinks.  A  terrible  diarrhea  or  dysentei;y  usually  accom- 
l)auies  this  form  of  disease. 

In  other  cases  abscesses  form  in  and  around  the  lungs  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  body,  and  the  animals  die  of  purulent  infection.  Occasion- 
ally a  cavity  formed  by  tlie  breaking  up  of  d4seased  lung  tissue  commu- 
nicates with  the  pleural  sac  or  cavity  of  the  chest,  and  a  condition  known 
to  pathologists  as  empyema  results,  to  the  certain  destruction  of  the 
animal. 

DURATION   OF   THE    DISEASE. 

Affected  animals  usually  pass  through  an  incubative  stage  varying 
from  twenty  to  eighty  days,  and  usually  averaging  from  twenty-five  to 
forty  days.  The  acute  stage  of  the  disorder  varies  from  seven  to  twenty- 
one  days.  Convalescence  extends  over  a  period  of  one,  two,  and  even 
three  months,  during  the  greater  part  of  which  the  convalescent  animal 
is  often  capable  of  infecting  healthy  cattle. 

The  mortality  varies  from  one  to  ninety  per  cent,  of  the  affected  ani- 
mals. When  a  first  case  is  isolated  early,  all  the  remaining  animals  may 
continue  to  enjoy  health.  As  a  rule,  in  mild  outbreaks,  the  mortality 
obtains  twenty-five  per  cent.,  and  in  severe  cases  sixty,  seventy,  eighty, 
and  even  one  hundred  per  cent. 

In  England  the  lung  disease  has  doubled  the  usual  cattle  mortality  of 
the  country,  and  during  many  years  fifty  per  cent,  of  tlie  cattle  that 
have  died  of  disease  have  died  of  tlie  contagious  lung  disease. 


28  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

LATENT  FORM. 

It  is  nocessary  tliat  I  sliould  draw  s])ecial  attention  to  tlie  large  nnm- 
bar  of  cases  wliieli  run  an  iiisidions  eonrse  and  pass  unobserved.  These 
are  the  most  dangerous,  as  less  care  is  paid  to  their  isolation. 

APPEARANCES  AFTER  DEATH.  . 

Animals  that  are  slaughtered,  or  are  permitted  to  die  in  advanced 
stages  of  the  lung  plague,  ])resent  tlie  following  characteristics: 

The  internal  changes  are  contined  almost  entirely  to  the  chest.  On 
opening  this,  by  splitting  the  brisket,  as  the  animal  lies  on  its  back, 
layers  of  yellowish,  friable,  false  membrane,  of  varying  tenacity,  stretch 
across  around  the  sac  (pericardium)  containing  the  heart.  These  adhe- 
sions exist  on  one  or  both  sides  of  the  chest,  and  are  sometimes  alto- 
gether absent.  They  are  found  bathed  in  a  yellowish,  grumous  fluid  or 
serum,  highly  charged  with  albumen  and  shreds  of  solid  deposit.  Por- 
tions of  one  or  both  lungs  are  found  more  or  less  tirndy  adhering  to  the 
membrane  (pleura)  covering  the  ribs  and  diaphragm,  and  in  i)assingthe 
hands,  especially  round  the  large  posterior  lobes  of  either  lung,  it  is 
ditlicnlt,  in  advanced  stages  of  the  disorder,  to  detach  the  diseased  por- 
tions of  the  organ  from  the  ribs. 

The  false  membranes,  disposed  in  laj^ers  which  may  be  stripped  oft" 
the  pulmonary  surtace,  are  found  adhering  more  or  less  closely  to  it,  and 
the  membrane  (pleura)  covering  the  lung,  which  is  usually  smooth  and 
glistening,  is  rough,  of  a  njottled  color,  and  with  more  or  less  marked 
papillary  or  warty-looking  eminences.  These  are  the  vascular  oft'shoots 
of  the  membrane  feeding  the  deposit  around,  and  in  time  the  process  of 
growth  and  formation  of  vascular  or  blood-carrying  tissue  may  lead  to 
as  solid  a  connection  between  the  lung  and  the  sides  of  the  chest  as 
between  healthy  tissues.  Such  complete  development  is  only  seen  iu 
very  chronic  cases,  or  animals  that  have  recovered  from  the  disease. 

The  fluid  around  one  or  both  lungs  varies  in  amount  from  a  few  ounces 
to  several  gallons.  At  times  it  is  tolerably  clear  when  warm,  and  gelatin- 
izes on  cooling.  At  others  it  is  diflicnlt  to  separate  it  from  the  shreds 
of  lymph  and  false  membranes  in  the  meshes  of  which  it  is  held.  Pus 
cells  frequently  abound  in  it,  and  it  assumes  in  a  few  cases  the  character 
of  pus.  It  is  especially  purulent  when  abeesses  have  formed  in  the  gan- 
grenous lung  tissue,  and  an  opening  has  led  to  communication  between 
the  lung  tissue  and  the  pleural  sac.  Under  these  circumstances,  the 
fetor  noticed  on  opening  the  chest  is  intolerable. 

On  removing  the  lungs,  great  variations  in  extent,  but  uniformity  in 
essential  appearances,  of  disease  exist. 

In  recent  and  mihl  cases,  one  lung  is  found  aff'ected.  Its  surface  may 
be  smooth  from  the  absence  of  deposit  around  it.  Parts  of  the  organ 
are  collapsed,  as  iii  health,  and  the  usual  normal  i>ink  color  is  noticed. 
The  allected  pai't   is  swollen,  hard,  and  mottled.     On  cutting  into  this, 


THE    LUNG   PLAGUE.  29 

tlie  older  diseased  portions  present  a  very  peculiar  marbled  or  tesselated 
character.  The  substance  of  the  lobules  is  solid  and  of  a  dark  red  color, 
and  the  tissue  between  the  lobules  is  of  a  yellowish  red,  more  or  less 
spotted  with  red  points,  but  sometimes  of  almost  pure  yellowish  white 
color. 

Tlie  more  recent  deposits  are  distinguished  mainly  by  a  lighter  red 
color  of  the  thickened  lobules,  and  there  are  gradations  from  this  con- 
dition to  that  in  which  the  lobules  are  but  slightly  infiltrated  with  semi- 
liquid  serum,  and  air  still  passes  more  or  less  into  their  air  vesicles. 

As  the  disease  advances,  tlie  extent  of  solidified  and  darkened  lung 
increases,  and  portions  of  the  lung  tissue  lose  more  or  less  the  marbled 
appearance,  from  the  blood-staining  of  the  interstitial  deposit.  The  con- 
solidation of  structures  advances  so  that  the  blood  vessels  are  obstruct- 
ed, the  diseased  lung  loses  all  meaus  of  nourishment,  and  the  older^ 
darker,  and  more  solid  portions  become  detached,  so  that  they  remain 
as  foreign  bodies  imbedded  in  cavities  in  the  diseased  tissue.  The  admis- 
sions of  air  through  the  air  passages  into  these  cavities  by  dissolution 
of  the  lung  tissue,  lead  to  the  cavernous  sounds  which  the  ear  can  detect 
in  the  living  animal,  and  the  broken-up  tissue  decomposes  and  induces 
great  fetor  of  the  breath. 

One  lung  may  have  several  points  diseased;  each  lobe  may  be  affected 
and  little  or  no  communication  between  the  several  parts  implicated. 
Tlie  great  tenacity  of  a  yellowish  white  deposit  around  a  marked  mar- 
bled center  of  disease  has  been  said  to  indicate  a  certain  tendency  to 
limitation  by  the  formation  of  a  capsule,  and  several  encapsulated  cen- 
ters may  be  found. 

On  taking  a  warm  diseased  lung,  severing  the  still  healthy  portions, 
making  incisions  into  the  parts  solidified,  and  suspending  them  so  that 
they  may  drain,  a  large  amount  of  yellowish  serum  of  a  translucent 
character,  almost  wholly  free  or  more  or  less  tinged  with  blood,  is 
obtained  to  the  extent  of  pounds  in  weight.  The  amount  varies  with 
weight  of  diseased  lung  drained.  The  quantity  of  this  and  of  the  solidi- 
fied deposit  in  a  diseased  lung  is  so  large,  that  from  a  normal  weight  of  four 
or  five  pounds,  a  lung  attains  to  ten,  twenty,  forty,  and  I  have  seen  one 
as  high  as  fifty-four  pounds  in  weight. 

AIR  PASSAGES. 

The  condition  of  the  air  passages  varies  from  a  condition  of  perfect 
freedom  down  to  the  diseased  portions  of  lung,  to  a  state  in  which  the 
mucous  membrane  is  coated  with  false  membrane  or  solid  exudations  of 
lymph.  By  suitable  means  it  is  not  difficult  to  isolate  the  solid  white 
lymph  clogging  the  terminal  bronchial  tubes  and  air  vesicles  in  the  con- 
solidated tissues,  but  at  a  distance  from  these  i)arts  it  is  only  in  some 
cases  that  a  kind  of  (;roupy  complication  exists.  I  have  seen  an  animal 
gasping  for  breath,  with  its  mouth  open,  nostrils  widely  expanded,  eyes 
prominent,  and  visible  mucous  membranes  of  a  bluish  red  color  j  ou 


30  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

openiiiff  the  air  pnssaj;:os  of  this  cow  after  deatli,  they  Avere  found 
throughout  their  whoU;  extent  nearly  tiUed  Avith  a  deposit  siniiUir  to 
tliat  usually  found  on  the  surface  of  the  diseased  luuff. 

There  is  little  necessity  for  proloniifinij  this  <h'scription  of  cadaveric 
manifestations.  The  heart's  sac  is  sonietiuies  thickened  by  dei)osits 
around  it.  Not  unfrequently  it  contains  an  excess  of  serum.  The  heart 
itself  is  contracted  and  pale,  containing-  a  little  dark  blood.  The  organs 
of  digestion  at  different  stages  manifest  a  state  of  dryness.  The  third 
stomach,  which  is  so  constantly  packed  with  dry  food  in  febrile  diseases, 
is  in  the  same  condition  in  pleuropneumonia.  1  liave  known  the  mu- 
cous layers  spotted  with  irregular  or  circular  congestions  or  blood  extra- 
vasations, and  the  nuMiibrane  softening  in  these  parts  has  become  per- 
forated. In  advanced  cases  there  is  more  or  less  diffuse  redness,  and 
even  blood  extravasations  in  the  large  intestine,  with  fluid,  fetid  and 
sometimes  slightly  blood-stained  excrement,  such  as  is  discharged  during 
life. 

The  anfemia — or  bloodless  condition  of  other  tissues — the  dark,  dry  look 
of  the  meat  dressed  by  the  butcher,  the  yellow  color  of  the  fat  in  some 
cases,  and  the  small  quantity  of  fat  left  in  animals  that  have  succumbed 
under  a  chronic  attack,  are  all  general  signs  of  greater  or  less  value, 
when  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  changes  occurring  in  the  chest 

THE  CAUSES  OF  TEE  LUXG  PLAGUE. 

The  facts  which  have  been  adduced  in  the  foregoing  pages  would  seem 
sufficient  to  set  at  rest  discussions  as  to  the  causes  hitherto  alleged  as 
giving  rise  to  the  spontaneous  development  of  contagious  pleuro-pneu- 
monia.  Nevertheless  we  have  seen  that  wherever  the  malady  appears 
for  the  first  time  the  relation  of  its  undoubted  cause  and  effect  is  usually 
overlooked.  Many  circumstances  tend  to  obscure  the  observations  even 
of  experts,  and  it  is  more  i)arti(*ularly  in  large  cities,  where  the  disease  is 
most  common  and  observers  more  numerous,  that  conditions  mislead  and 
have  misled.  With  a  view  therefore  to  impede  the  renewal  of  false 
theories  which  have  up  to  the  present  day  insured  the  steady  reproduc- 
tion and  propagation  of  this  bovine  pest,  it  may  be  well  to  enter  into 
details  under  three  heads: 

1st.  The  alleged  original  causes  of  the  lung  plague. 

2d.  Contagion  and  infection. 

3d.  Conditions  fa^'oring  or  insuring  comnumication  of  the  disease  by 
actual  contact  or  approach. 

THE  ALLEGED  ORIGINAL  CAUSES  OF  THE  LUNG  PLAGUE. 

Man  at  all  times  and  in  virtue  of  a  strong  instinct  theorizes  on  the 
why  and  the  wherefore  of  everything.  Valentini,  in  his  records  of  the 
lung  disease,  overlooking  altogether  many  points  which,  with  the  know- 
ledge of  the  present  day,  enable  us  to  interpret  correctly  the  phenomena 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  '  31 

he  observed,  ascribed  tlie  lung  plague  to  atmospliericag-encies  and  unsea- 
sonable weath'^r.  Mailer,  a  shrewd  observer  and  great  philosopher, 
adopted  an  inductive  system  of  research,  and,  arguing  from  his  own 
sphere  of  observation,  declared,  in  words  which  deserve  to  be  written  in 
gold,  that  so  far  as  his  district  was  concerned  the  disease  appeared  always 
to  be  imported.  He  did  not  hide  the  truth  under  a  load  of  Avild  and  fan- 
ciful theories  in  attempting  to  explain  more  than  he  saw  and  could  judge 
of  personally. 

Since  the  establishment  of  veterinary  colleges  in  France,  two  theories 
have  been  and  to  a  certain  extent  continue  to  be  advocated.  Chabert 
regarded  the  bovine  pleuro-pneumoniaso  common  in  the  dairies  of  Paris 
as  contagious,  whereas  Huzard  held  the  contrary  opinion.  The  Held  of 
discussion  widened,  and  it  came  to  be  very  widely  admitted  that  acute 
affections  of  the  chest  were  contagious,  and  the  chronic  forms  incapable 
of  communication  from  the  sick  to  the  healthy.  Kot  only  was  this 
believed  of  pulmonary  complaint  among  cattle ;  it  was  also  accepted 
with  reference  to  glanders  in  the  horse. 

Delafond,  though  an  able  advocate  of  the  contagious  character  of  pleuro- 
pneumonia iu  1844,  had  previously  entertained  grave  doubts  on  the  ques- 
tion. Even  in  his  classical  work  on  the  disease,  while  advancing  a  large 
mass  of  invaluable  information  demonstrating  how  in  truth  the  nmlady 
extends,  his  usual  desire  to  round  off  and  complete  his  works  led  him  to 
theorize  and  err  as  to  the  origin  of  what  he  calls  ^^spontaneous  pleuro- 
pneumonia^^ in  cattle.  This  expression  is  not  applied  by  him  to  an  ordi- 
nary attack  of  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  which  no  one  ever  ascribes  to 
contagion,  but  to  the  lung  plague.  The  local  or  determining  causes  of 
the 'spontaneous  form  of  this  disease  he  summarizes  as  follows: 

A.  Heat  and  impure  atmosphere  of  stables  in  which  cattle  live  for  five 
or  six  months  of  the  year,  especially  when  this  heat,  this  impurity,  are 
combined  with  a  very  nutritive  aliment  that  produces  much  blood. 

B.  Abundant  milk  secretions,  required  from  cows  in  certain  localities, 
either  for  the  sale  of  milk  or  of  butter  and  cheese. 

C.  Chills  of  the  skin  and  respiration  by  cold,  humid,  misty  air,  on  pas- 
tures, either  during  spring  or  autumn  ;  the  introduction  of  cold  air  in  the 
lunas  in  winter  on  taking  animals  from  the  stables  to  be  watered. 

D.  The  glacial  waters  which  cattle  are  compelled  to  drink  in  winter, 
and  the  unhealthy  waters  of  marshes  which  they  have  to  take  in  summer. 

E.  The  hard  work  to  w^hich  work  cattle  are  subjected  in  summer  in 
clearing  forests,  &Q,. 

F.  Lastly,  hereditary  predisposition. 

All  this  classified  blundering  might  be  disposed  of  in  one  sentence,  by 
asserting  the  truth,  that  the  experience  of  ages  has  shown  in  many  parts 
of  the  world,  that  all  these  causes,  singly  and  combined,  have  failed  to 
induce  a  case  of  pleuropneumonia.  Whether  we  examine  the  agricul- 
tural annals  of  Scotland  or  Spain,  of  Canada  or  Texas,  of  South  America 
or  Australia,  it  will  be  found  that  alternations  of  temperature,  chills, 


32  DEPARTMENT  OF  A.GRICULTURE. 

breathing  the  pure  air  of  heaven  as  near  th(»  north  pole  as  cattle  have 
reached,  drinking  the  frozen  waters  of  North  America  or  the  stagnant 
pools  in  the  s\vanii)S  of  the  Carol inas  and  Louisiana  during  the  hottest 
sumnu'rs,  the  hard  toils  and  sutferings  of  nuiiiy  a  ^Mexican  yoke  of  oxen, 
and,  lastly,  the  greatest  negligence  of  an  agricultural  people  in  relation 
to  the  improvements  of  breeds,  one  and  all  have  failed  ever  to  induce  a 
single  case  of  lung  plague.  Delafond  had  his  theories.  We  have  an 
array  of  facts  on  our  si<le  as  great  and  as  incontrovertible  as  any  ever 
before  adduced  in  support  of  any  medical  or  other  question. 

But  brevity  is  not  always  desirable  when  the  object  to  be  attained  is 
the  diffusion  of  an  abundant  and  accurate  knowledge,  and  interesting 
points  may  be  beuelicially  discussed  under  the  separate  heads  arranged 
by  Delafond. 

SPECIAL   CAUSES  PAVORING    THE    DEVELOPMENT   OF   THE   DISEASE  IN 

MOUNTAINS. 

Delafond  asserts  that  in  Switzerland,  Piedmont,  the  Juras,  the  Dau- 
phine,  the  Yosges,  and  Pyrenees,  pleuropneumonia  has  existed  per- 
manently. He  does  not  ascribe  this  to  geological  formation,  but  he 
believes  firmly,  with  almost  all  the  veterinarians  in  mountainous  dis- 
tricts, that  the  disposition,  topographic  situation  of  mountains  and  val- 
leys, the  cold  temperature  during  six  mouths  of  the  year,  hoar  frost, 
heavy  fogs,  coldness  and  moisture  of  the  nights  and  mornings  on  wood, 
land  pastures,  or  near  lakes  and  rivers,  frequent  atnuispheric  currents 
in  spring  and  autumn,  sudden  changes  from  hot  to  cold,  dry  to  wet,  or 
vice  versa,  &c.,  &c.,  are  the  local  determining  causes  which  combine, 
with  other  causes  that  have  yet  to  be  noticed,  in  inducing  the  lung 
plague.  Delafond's  words  are  that  the  causes  enumerated  concur  "  a 
donner  naissance  a  la  periimeumonie  dans  la  haute  et  dans  la  basse  mon- 
tagney 

Delafond  erred.  He  had  not  read  Haller;  and  had  he  visited  any 
part  where  it  was  said  the  lung  plague  was  a  permanent  inlliction,  he 
would  have  found,  with  Haller,  that  it  was  always  arriving  from  some- 
where, but  never  originating  spontaneously.  If  we  examine  the 
geographical  distribution  of  the  disease  we  shall  find  the  mountains  of 
northern  Europe,  of  Norway,  Sweden,  and  Denmark,  free  from  the  dis- 
ease. And  yet  the  special  c.iuses  he  refers  to  predominate  there.  No 
part  of  Europe  has  been  more  constantly  devastated  than  Holland, 
noted  for  its  submerged  condition  and  the  vast  drainage  works  which 
render  it  inhabital)le.  In  the  British  isles  tlie  hills  have  always  been 
most  free  from  pleuropneumonia.  It  has  i)revaiUHl  at  all  altitudes,  but 
the  Scottish  and  Irish  mountains,  distant  from  high  roads  and  the  busy 
traffic  in  cattle,  have  been  the  healthiest  parts  of  our  country.  And  in 
America,  too,  the  disease  has  traveled  from  the  east  southward  along 
the  coast,  attacking  cities  and  farms  most  in  communication  with  those 
cities.      It  has  not  penetrated  to  the  fine  dairy  farms  on  the  hills  in 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  33 

]S'ew  York  State,  and  is  not  indigenous  on  the  Allcgbanies.  It  were  a 
much  easier  task  to  trace  the  mahKly  to  fertile  valleys,  where  cattle  are 
often  covered,  as  in  Holland,  to  be  protected  from  cold,  and  to  towns 
where  animals  are  always  in  stables,  than  to  trace  the  spontaneous 
origin  of  the  disease  to  the  mountains  of  Central  and  Western  Europe. 

FEEDING. 

There  are  many  farmers,  apt  to  reason  on  insufficient  data,  who  notice 
coincideuces  between  the  development  of  the  lung  disease  and  great 
increase  in  some  countries  in  the  number  of  distilleries,  the  amount  of 
grains  and  distillery  waste  fed  to  cattle.  Others  declare  the  disease 
commenced  with  the  potato  disease,  and  may  be  produced  by  feeding 
cattle  on  diseased  potatoes.  The  introduction  of  turnip  husbandry, 
which  undoubtedly  first  made  us  acquainted  with  a  form  of  red  water 
in  cows,  and  severe  apoplectic  affections  in  sheep,  has  also  been  regarded 
as  the  cause  in  Great  Britain,  of  the  lung  disease  in  cattle.  Delafond 
agrees  that  the  foods  named  do  not  cause  pi  euro-pneumonia,  and  it  would 
be  easy  to  fill  a  large  volume  with  facts  in  support  of  this  assertion; 
and  yet  he  goes  on  to  say  that  food  that  is  too  succulent,  distributed  in 
large  quantity  among  cattle  that  are  being  stall  fed,  either  for  the 
butcher  or  for  the  production  of  milk,  may  induce  {pent  occasioner,) 
pleuro-pneumonia. 

We  are  not  ignorant  of  the  precise  results  which  ensue  when  an 
excessive  quantity,  inordinate  richness,  or  diseased  condition  of  the 
alimentary  matters  named  may  operate  in  inducing  ill  effects.  Diseased 
potatoes  induce  indigestion  and  colic.  Turnips  grown  on  ill-drained 
lands  give  rise  to  hematuria,  the  red  water  of  cows  after  parturition. 
Distillery  products  occasion  diuresis,  disturbed  digestion,  ami  when 
still  charged  with  alcoholic  principles  give  rise  to  cerebral  disturbance, 
apoplexy  and  death.  These,  and  not  pleuro-pneumonia,  are  known  to  us 
as  capable  of  development  from  the  abuse  of  otherwise  useful  articles 
of  cattle  feeding. 

STABLING — STALL  FEEDING. 

Many  have  been  the  high-colored  descriptions  of  the  wretched 
stables,  sheds,  or  what  the  Scotch  people  term  "  byres,"  in  which  cattle 
are  housed.  It  matters  not  that  for  generations  cattle  were  similarly 
housed  without  suffering  from  pleuro-pneumonia.  There  are  always 
those  ready  to  skim  the  surface  for  reasons,  and,  after  noticing  the  close- 
ness, filth,  and  torturing  narrowness  of  cattle  stalls,  ascribe  to  that  any 
and  every  plague  infecting  the  cow  shed.  It  is  needless  to  walk  the 
observer  through  the  fetid  holes  in  which  cattle  are  kept  for  the  sujjply 
of  milk  in  Copenhagen,  where  pleuro-pneumonia  has  not  been  observed, 
nor  to  refer  to  the  days  when  the  London  dairymen,  richer  in  money 
and  cows,  kept  the  latter  worse,  bred  from  them  regularly,  and  could 
3 


34  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

maintain  country  farms  on  wliicli  to  graze  tluMn  while  calving-.  It  stands 
to  reason,  according  to  some,  that  such  conditions  must  induce  i)leuro- 
pneunu)nia.  In  America-,  sensation  articles  and  skillful  illustrations 
have  not  been  wanting,  and  no  one  can  hesitate  in  declaring  that  the 
cow  sheds  of  Brooklyn  and  other  cities  are  a  disgrace  to  a  civilized 
peoi)le. 

Iluzard  lirst  described  the  cow  houses  of  Paris  as  they  were  in  171):]. 
It  is  needless  to  follow  him  through  a  long  description  of  low  sheds,  in 
Avhich  a  man  could  not  stand  erect,  where  cows  were  crippled  into  per- 
manent rest,  with  their  horns  overgrown  and  distorted  for  want  of  regular 
wear  and  tear,  and  in  which  fowls,  pigs,  and  rabbits  shared  shelter  and 
a  pestilential  atmosphere.  Delafond  has  described  the  wretched  stabling 
of  hill  farmers.  How,  then,  can  it  be  said  that  in  these  sheds,  where  the 
lung  plague  always  prevails,  the  conditions  do  not  exist  for  its  sponta- 
neous origin  ? 

It  cannot  be  disputed  that  there  are  conditions — as  when  an  animal  suf- 
fers from  pleuropneumonia,  and  has  but  one  lung  to  breathe  with — under 
which  a  large  voluuu>  of  pure  air  nmy  turn  the  scale  from  death  to  life. 
It  is  also  undoubted  that  the  concentration  of  the  poison  so  freely  given 
off  in  this  contagious  disease  must  materially  favor  its  reproduction  in 
the  systems  of  susceptible  animals.  But  no  one  who  has  witnessed  the 
slow  progress  of  the  malady  in  town  dairies,  and  the  rapid  destruction 
of  herds  in  open  fields,  can  for  a  moment  believe  in  the  usual  aggrava- 
tion of  the  malady  by  bad  stabling.  Where  the  malady  has  been  induced 
among  young  stock  by  large  dairymen  so  as  to  prevent  after  incon- 
veniences, when  the  animals  are  fit  to  breed  and  yield  milk,  it  has  been 
found  that  most  survived  when  kept  warm  in  close  sheds.  Eecommenda- 
tious  as  to  ventilating  stables  after  disease  had  commenced,  have  at  times 
resulted  in  a  much  more  rapid  destruction  of  the  cattle,  and  we  are  bound 
to  admit  that  a  priori  reasoning  has  often  been  at  fault  on  this  subject. 

ABUNDANT  MILK   SECRETION. 

The  universal  prevalence  of  the  lung  plague  in  town  dairies,  where 
cows  are  kept  for  an  abundant  production  of  milk,  has  led  to  the  theory 
that  the  drain  on  the  system  thus  kept  up  induces  the  pleuro-pneumonia. 
It  is  asserted,  and  there  appears  some  ground  for  the  belief,  that  the 
hunmn  female,  as  well  as  the  female  among  lower  animals,  is  more  sus- 
ceptible than  others  to  the  influences  of  contagion,  but  so  far  no  facts  of 
importance  have  ever  been  published  indicating  that  an  abundant  secre- 
tion of  milk  induces  specific  disease  and  malignant  fev»'rs.  Delafond 
has  referred  to  abundant  production  in  dairies  where  pleuro-pneumonia 
was  always  troublesome,  and  expresses  himself  as  follows:  "1  firndy 
believe  that  cows  which  calve  every  ten  or  eleven  months,  iiiid  whicli 
are  constantly  yielding  an  abundant  milk  secretion,  whether  l)y  being 
fed  abundantly  on  ri<li  provcuilcr,  or  placing  them  in  hot,  damp  stables, 
so  as  KM'heck  cutaneous  and  pulmonary  secretion,  soon  have  their  chest 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  35 

enfeebled  and  are  seized  with  pleuro-pneumonia ;  or,  at  all  events,  and 
that  is  incontestable,  they  become  predisposed  to  the  disease,  which  they 
easily  get  on  bpiug-  exposed  to  the  breathing-  of  a  cold  air,  or  to  cold  on  the 
surface  of  the;  SKin." 

Here,  again,  it  is  not  difficult  to  trace  the  real  effects  of  an  abundant 
milk  secretion  in  stables  that  are  close  and  ill-drained.  Up  to  the  time 
when  the  lung  disease  first  appeared  in  London  it  was  not  uncommon 
for  cows  to  be  milked  for  several  consecutive  years.  Large  milkers  were 
always  kept  on,  and  had  a  calf  annually  until  too  old  or  killed  by  disease. 
The  disease  that  killed  them  was  not  pleuro-pneumonia,  but  tuberculosis. 
That  malady,  once  so  i^revalent,  is  almost  unknown  now,  inasmuch  as 
the  London  cow  feeders  have  ceased  to  breed  from  their  cows,  and  the 
average  duration  of  a  cow's  lifetime  in  a  London  shed  does  not  exceed 
six  mouths. 

DRINKING  COLD   OR  IMPURE  "WATER. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  refer  at  length  to  this  reputed  cause  of  pleuro- 
pneumonia. ]N"ot  only  is  there  an  absence  of  fact  in  support  of  the 
production  of  the  malady  by  cold  water  in  winter  and  stagnant  in 
summer,  but  it  is  well  known  that  the  malady  is  usually  most  rife  in 
many  cities  during  the  summer,  when  cattle  are  allowed,  as  in  Washing- 
ton, to  roam  at  pleasure  during  the  day,  coming  in  contact,  and,  there- 
fore, infecting  each  other,  yet  w^hile  the  supply  of  water  is  good,  and 
indeed  unexceptionable.  Were  it  worth  whilel  could  easilyfuruish  mauy 
facts  under  this  head  indicating  that  there  is  no  relation  whatever 
between  the  condition  and  quantity  of  water  cattle  drink  and  the  devel- 
opment of  the  lung  disease. 

CHILLS — BREATHING  A  COLD   AIR. 

East  winds  in  Scotland  were  blamed  by  Professor  Dick  as  the  active 
agency  inducing  bovine  pleuro-pneumonia.  He  overlooked  the  fact  that 
the  east  winds  prevailed  before  184:3,  when  the  lung  plague  had  not  yet 
penetrated  Scotland.  I  have  seen  on  the  coast  of  Fife  a  herd  of  cattle 
of  all  ages  seized  with  bronchitis — a  curable,  benignant,  and  acute  inflam- 
mation, presenting  none  of  the  characters  of  the  lung  plague;  and  there 
is  no  doubt  that  deficient  shelter,  intense  cold,  and  rapid  changes  of  the 
weather,  may  induce  sporadic  and  non-contagious  inflammations  of  tlu^ 
respiratory  organs.     But  this  is  not  pleuro-pneumonia. 

It  is  not  at  all  uncommon  in  Great  Britain,  Holland,  and  elsewhere, 
for  farmers  to  ascribe  the  disease  to  chills;  and  its  prevalence  among 
drift  cattle  lias  been  referred  to  transportation  for  long  distances  in  open 
railway  cars,  on  steaudjoats,  and  exposm^e  in  markets.  Bur  who  cxcr 
heard  of  western  cattle  being  struck  with  the  lung  plague  in  passing 
from  Illinois  to  New  York  ?  Spanish  cattle,  reared  in  a  country  free  i'n  m 
pleuro-pneumonia,  suffer  all  the  hardships  of  rough  weather  at  sea,  but 


36  DEPAKTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

are  landed  invariably  sound  in  their  Innft-s  in  Liverpool  or  London.  Dan- 
ish cattle  cross  the  German  Ocean  and  suifer  much  ill-treatment,  but 
their  dissection  reveals  at  no  time  the  lesions  of  the  lung  plaj^ue. 

Kot  so  with  Dutch  or  Irish  cattle.  They  make  a  short  sea  voyage 
from  an  infected  country  and  propagate  pleuro-pneumonia  wherever  they 
come  in  contact  with  susceptible  cattle. 

Innumerable  observations  undoubtedly  shoAV  that  the  lung  plague 
prevails  as  much,  and  often  more,  during  hot  weather  than  in  the  win- 
ter months ;  it  spares  many  cold  countries  into  which  it  has  no  oppintu- 
nity  of  transportation,  and  visits  the  most  genial  climate  whither  sick 
cattle  have  been  taken.  Italy  and  Australia  furnish  as  good  fields  for 
its  development  as  the  Swiss  Alps,  and  the  colder  portions  of  the 
United  States. 

OVERWORK. 

In  France  and  Italy  it  has  been  asserted  that  keeping  oxen  long  in 
the  yoke,  exhausting  them,  starving,  and  often  drenching  them  with 
rain,  induced  the  lung  disease.  I  know  not  what  diseases  such  prac- 
tices have  not  been  said  to  cause.  If  we  survey  the  countries  where 
pleuro-pneumonia  has  been  longest  known,  and  where  its  ravages  have 
been  most  intense,  we  shall  find  that,  as  a  rule,  it  prevails  among  milk 
cattle  that  never  work,  steers  that  are  grazed  or  stall-fed,  and  never 
broken  to  the  plow-  or  wagon,  and  herds  of  breeding  stock,  as  in  the 
Australian  runs,  never  accustomed  to  restraint  or  punishment. 

HEREDITARY  PREDISPOSITION — CONGENITAL  PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 

It  is  necessary  to  establish  clearly  the  difference  between  hereditary 
taint  and  congenital  disease.  A  malady  is  termed  hereditary  when  it  is 
transmitted  from  parent  to  offspring  by  virtue  of  a  constitutional  defect, 
deformity,  or  taint.  It  may,  but  usually  does  not,  appear  at  birth.  The 
best  example  is  furnished  by  cancer,  which  occurs  frequently  in  the 
human  female,  and  reciu^s  for  generations.  None  of  the  specific  or 
contagious  fevers  are  hereditary,  and  although  the  question  has  been 
discussed  in  relation  to  pleuro-pneumonia,  it  can  easily  be  settled. 
Delafond  thought  that  the  deterioration  of  breeds  might  favor  its  devel- 
opment. And  why,  then,  has  the  disease  not  appeared  in  South  America, 
wiiile  it  has  decimated  the  matchless  herds  of  England  and  Aus- 
tralia? It  may  be  accepted  as  a  settled  truth  that  the  lung  disease,  like 
the  rinderpest  and  foot  and  mouth  disease,  spreads  Avithout  reference  to 
any  ])eculiar  breed.  Improved  and  unimproved  breeds  are  alike  sus- 
ceptible of  the  attection. 

Calves  are,  however,  born  at  times  of  sick  cows,  and  present  unmis- 
takable signs  of  the  lung  plague.  The  first  observation  of  this  sort  was 
made  by  llilfcllielscim,  in  the  Ilhine  provinces,  who  dissected  the 
fietuses  of  cows  that  aborted  under  the  disease.    He  found  the  lesions 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  37 

of  pleuro-pneumonia  iu  these  animals.  Delafond  made  similar  observa- 
tions, bnt  lias  created  some  confnsion  by  including  cases  of  tuberculosis 
with  others  of  pleuro-pneumonia.  In  1839,  a  cow  that  had  gone  six 
months  in  calf  was  killed  in  Fribourg,  Switzerland,  while  suffering  from 
pleuro-pneumonia.  The  foetus  presented  signs  of  the  malady.  It  is 
common  for  calves  to  take  the  disease  soon  after  birth,  and  I  have 
shown  in  a  government  report  that  the  contagious  cattle  diseases  of 
Ireland,  including  pleuropneumonia,  were  mainly  due  to  the  active 
trade  in  sucking- calves  between  the  large  towns  of  England  and 
Dublin. 

It  has  been  necessary  frequently  to  refer  to  animals  that  are  suscepti- 
ble and  insusceptible  to  attacks  of  pleuro-pneumonia.  This  has  been 
ascribed  by  some  to  constitutional  or  inbred  resistance  or  weakness. 
It  is  due  to  what  pathologists  term,  for  want*of  a  better  name  or  expla- 
nation, idiosyncrasy.  At  times  it  appears  that  young  animals  resist 
the  disease  better  than  old  ones ;  and  Mr.  Harvey,  of  Glasgow,  found 
that  by  communicating  the  disease  to  yearlings  and  two-year-olds,  he 
had  fewer  deaths  than  when  he  had  it  among  his  pregnant  and  milch 
cows.  But,  as  Sauberg  has  observed,  outbreaks  occur  in  which  the 
older  animals  seem  to  bear  up  better  than  the  young  ones,  and  it  is 
difiQcult,  on  present  data,  to  establish  any  rule  on  the  point. 

It  may  be  accepted  as  proved  that  all  cattle,  whatever  their  age, 
breed,  sex,  conditiou,  &c.,  are  susceptible  to  pleuro-pneumonia  until 
they  have  been  once  seized,  and  then  it  is  rare  to  witness  a  second 
attack.  An  insusceptible  animal  is,  therefore,  an  animal  that  has  once 
had  the  disease,  either  in  a  mild  or  latent,  or  severe  and  apparent,  form. 

It  is,  however,  certain  that  a  degree  of  insusceptibility  may  be  traced 
in  animals  that  have  never  been  affected,  and  we  are  quite  at  a  loss  to 
account  for  this.  Similar  observations  are  made  in  relation  to  all  fevers 
affecting  men  and  animals.  A  person  has  been  known  to  nurse  many 
during  an  outbreak  of  yellow  fever,  escape  and  live  for  a  year,  when 
the  disease  has  reappeared,  and  the  individual  who  has  been  proof 
against  the  malady  one  year  has  been  among  the  first  to  die  from  it  the 
next. 

Not  a  few  cases  have  been  recorded  of  rinderpest — and  I  have  wit- 
nessed a  remarkable  one — of  a  cow  standing  for  weeks  by  animals  that 
died  of  the  malady  and  which  never  showed  signs  of  it.  More  strange  than 
this  are  two  observations,  one  in  Lyons  in  1853,  and  the  other  in  Vienna 
in  1805,  of  dogs  which  could  not  be  rendered  rabid  by  the  bites  of,  and 
inoculations  from,  undoubtedly  rabid  dogs.  For  the  tune,  at  all  events, 
we  must  rest  satisfied  with  the  pathologist's  explanation  that  these 
animals  had' a  peculiar  constitutional  immunity  or  idiosyncrasy. 

CONTAGION  AND  INFECTION. 

Not  only  have  thecnies  in  relation  to  the  cause  or  combinations  of 
causes  which  may  lead  to  the  development  of  pleuro-pneumonia  been 


38  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

unsntisfactory,  but  <)iii)()rtniiities  are  constantly  presenting-  tlicniselves 
ti)  test  the  fact  that  privations,  overcrowding-,  impure  food  and  water, 
&C.,  singly  or  combined,  may  kill,  but  never  induce  tlie  disease  which 
l)resents  the  characters  of  the  one  referred  to  in  this  report. 

The  malady  may  be  induced  at  will,  by  placing  an  animal  suffering 
from  it  among  healthy  ones,  and  by  direct  inoculation.  These  are 
only  methods  by  Avhicli  it  is  propagated. 

Careful  experiments  have  been  instituted  on  this  subject,  and  althougli 
it  might  be  easy  to  refer  to  very  numerous  observations,  it  may  suffice 
at  present  to  quote  from  aTrencli  report,  edited  by  Professor  Bouley, 
and  which  was  prepared  by  a  committee  of  distinguished  agricultur- 
ists, medical  aud  veterinary  professors,  at  the  request  of  the  minister 
of  agriculture. 

FIRST   SERIES   OF  EXPERniENTS. 

The  first  series  of  experiments  was  conducted  at  Pomerage,  in  the 
well-known  and  vast  domain  of  Eambouillet.  The  wliole  is  inclosed  in 
walls,  surrounded  by  woods,  and  perfectly  isolated.  A  stable  was  sep- 
arated into  two  distinct  compartments.  In  the  first,  designated  A,  with 
a  southwest  exposure,  was  a  single  door  leading  out  on  a  sutficiently 
wide  plot  of  ground,  bounded  by  water  w^here  the  cattle  could  be  taken 
to  drink.  Every  precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  the  cattle  in  A  from 
coming  within  reach  of  those  in  a  second  stable,  B.  The  latter  was 
situated  to  the  left  of  A,  and  completely  separated  by  a  solid  wall. 

Pleuropneumonia  had  never  existed  in  the  commune  of  Rambouillet. 
Messrs.  Renault,  Delafond,  and  Jouet  chose  the  cattle  and  subjected  them 
to  a  close  examination.  The  herd  consisted  of  three  bulls  and  seventeen 
cows.  These  animals  were  distinguished  by  names  and  numbers,  and 
distributed  in  the  two  stables  in  relation  to  age,  breed,  and  sex,  so  as  to 
secure  an  equable  distribution. 

Three  sick  cows  were  sent  to  Eambouillet  on  the  14th  of  :N^ovember, 
1851 ;  one  from  the  Departement  du  :N^ord,  the  second  from  INIont  Souris, 
aud  the  third  from  Vaugirard.  Three  more  sick  cows  w^ere  sent  on  the 
2d  of  December,  1851.  Of  these  six  sick  animals,  three  died  and  three 
recovered.  One  lived  three  days  in  stable  A,  a  second  five  days  and  a 
night  in  the  same,  and  the  third,  in  stable  B,  survived  ten  days  a)id  two 
nights. 

Of  the  three  sick  cows  that  recovered,  one,  admitted  into  stable  A  on 
the  10th  of  Xovember,  presented  symptoms  of  the  malady  up  to  the  20th 
of  December,  viz:  for  thirty-four  days.  The  second  entered  stable  B  on 
the  2d  of  December,  and  Avas  sick  for  nineteen  days.  The  third,  also 
admitted  in  the  same  stable,  continued  ill  for  twenty-eight  days. 

ISfahlc  yl.— On  the  21st  of  :N^ovember,  1851,  viz:  only  six  days  after 
the  introduction  into  this  stable  of  two  sick  cows,  a  peculiar  cough  was 
shown  by  two  cows,  (T.a  Noire,  No.  1(5,  and  Nornm,  No.  2.)  Their  lungs 
aj)i>('ared  sound,  and  they  continued  to  eat  and  ruminate. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  39 

The  same  .symptom  manifested  itself  successively,  as  follows: 

First,  on  Coquette.  (No.  3,)  on  the  2iid  of  jSTovember. 

Second,  on  Ilosine,  (No.  9,)  on  the  23d  of  November. 

Third,  on  Berthe,  (No.  8,)  on  the  25th  of  is'ovember. 

Fourth,  on  Babet,  (Xo.  7,)  on  the  3d  of  December. 

Fifth,  on  Clara,  (No.  1,)  on  the  5tli  of  December. 

Sixth,  on  Olga,  (No.  6,)  on  the  7th  of  December. 

Seventh,  on  Martin,  (No.  15,)  on  the  10th  of  December. 

Thus,  twenty-four  days  after  the  admission  of  two  sick  cows,  and  eight 
days  after  the  introduction  of  a  third  sick  animal,  out  of  ten  healthy  ani- 
mals, nine  presented  the  abnormal  indication  of  a  peculiar  cough.  Only 
one  cow  (La  Caille,  No.  11)  continued  in  perfect  health. 

After  this  first  sign  of  sickness,  the  characteristic  symi^toms  of  pleuro- 
pneumonia appeared  in  six  cows,  in  the  following  order: 

First,  Olga,  (No.  6,)  thirty-one  days  after  first  contact. 

Second,  La  Noire,  (No.  16,)  thirty-two  days  after  first  contact. 

Third,  Clara,  (No.  1,)  thirty-five  days  after  first  contact. 

Fourth,  Eosine,  (No.  9,)  thirty-five  days  after  first  contact. 

Fifth,  Norma,  (No.  2,)  thirty-seven  days  after  first  contact. 

Sixth,  Coquette,  (No.  3,)  fifty-seven  days  after  first  contact. 

Of  these  six  animals  one  only  died,  viz:  Olga,  (No.  6,)  and  her  carcass 
was  removed  to  Alfort  on  the  6th  of  January,  and  there  dissected  by  the 
members  of  the  commission. 

Of  the  five  other  cows  in  this  stable,  the  reporters  say  that  symptoms 
of  variable  intensity  and  duration  appeared,  and  they  all  recovered,  with 
the  exception  of  some  lesions  recognized  some  time  after  by  dissection. 

Of  the  three  animals  (Berthe,  No.  8,  Babet,  No.  7,  and  Martin,  No.  15) 
which  began  to  cough  the  first  days  after  contact  with  the  sick  cows, 
the  only  symptom  which  lasted,  and  is  said  to  have  continued  for  several 
months,  was  the  cough. 

iStable  B. — On  the  25th  of  November,  1851,  viz :  nine  days  after  the 
introduction  in  stable  B  of  the  two  sick  cows,  (Nos.  23  and  24,)  the  healthy 
cows  b'egan  to  cough,  in  the  following  order: 

First,  Suzon,  (No.  13,)  on  the  26th  of  November. 

Second,  La  Garde,  (No.  20,)  on  the  2d  of  December. 

Third,  Marton,  (No.  5,)  on  the  3d  of  December. 

Fourth,  Kettley,  (No.  17,)  on  the  7th  of  December. 

Fifth,  Leduc,  (No.  18,)  on  the  10th  of  December. 

Sixth,  Nebula,  (No.  4,)  on  the  18th  of  December. 

Seventh,  Homard,  (No.  14,)  on  the  28tli  of  December. 

So  that  thirty-two  days  after  the  introduction  of  sick  cows  in  stable  B, 
out  of  ten  health}-  animals  seven  presented  the  peculiar  abnornml  sign 
of  a  peculiar  cough. 

Tlire(r  animals  (Junon,  No.  19,  Bringe,  No.  10,  and  Biche,  No.  12)  con- 
tinued in  i)erfect  health. 


40  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

AVcll-iiiarked  symptoms  of  plciiro-piieumonia  presented  themselves  on 
four  cows,  ill  the  follow  in  <;•  order: 

First,  La  Garde,  (No.  L'O,)  sixteen  days  after  first  contact. 

Second,  Leduc,  (No.  IS,)  thirty  days  after  tirst  contact. 

Third,  INIarton,  (No.  5,)  thirty-live  days  after  first  contact. 

Fourth,  Uomard,  (No.  14,)  forty  days  after  tirst  contact. 

Two  of  these  animals  died  after  nine  days'  illness.  The  other  two 
were  quite  convalescent  in  twenty-eight  and  thirty-five  days  respectively. 
The  three  other  animals  continued  to  cough  for  some  months  without 
manifesting  more  serious  symptoms. 

The  conclusions  drawn  by  the  French  commissioners  from  the  forego- 
ing experiments  were  as  follows: 

The  epizootic  pleuro-pneumonia  of  cattle  is  susceptible  of  transmission 
from  sick  to  healthy  animals  by  cohabitation. 

Twenty  per  cent,  of  the  animals  manifest  a  resistance  to  the  contagion. 

Eighty  per  cent,  manifest  various  effects  of  the  contagious  influence. 

Fifty  per  cent,  are  seized  with  decided  symptoms  of  pleuro-pneumonia, 
and  of  these  fifteen  ])er  cent,  succumb,  and  thirty-five  per  cent,  recover. 

Immediate  contact  is  not  necessary  for  the  transmission  of  the  disease, 
and  tbe  first  affected  were  among  the  furthest  removed  from  the  sick. 

A  better  idea  of  the  results  of  the  very  important  experiments  thus 
related  may  be  formed  by  the  subjoined  tables,  wlijch  show  at  a  glance 
the  conditions  under  which  the  disease  was  propagated.  I  have  enlarged 
the  French  tables,  and  included  all  the  data  of  importance. 

SECOND   SERIES   OF  EXPEREMENTS. 

The  second  series  of  experiments  was  instituted  with  a  view  to  learn 
whether  the  animals  that  had  been  once  affected  enjoyed  an  immunity 
against  further  attacks,  and  whether  those  that  had  resisted  the  disease 
were  susceptible  of  subsequent  infection. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1852,  there  were  placed  in  a  stable  on  the  farm 
of  Charentonneau — 

1st.  Five  cows  from  Pomerage,  viz:  Brhig(?,  (No.  10,)  from  stable  B, 
which  had  resisted  the  disease;  Kettlej^,  (No.  17,)  ditto;  Clara,  (No.  1,) 
from  stable  A,  which  first  showed  signs  of  pleuro-i)neumonia  on  the  21st 
of  Beceiuber,  1851;  Norma,  (No.  2,)  from  the  same  stable,  affected  the 
23d  of  IJecember;  La  Coquette,  ditto,  date  of  attack  21st  of  Januarv, 
1852. 

2d.  With  these  five  cows  were  placed  two  perfectly  healthy  animals, 
(Marion,  No.  7,  and  Zula,  No.  8.) 

3d.  Lastly,  six  cows,  (liose  de  Mai,  No.  1,  Mille  Fleurs,  No.  4,  Jacque- 
line, No.  3,  Blanchctte,  No.  8,  Eosette,  No.  3,  and  Bucheronne,  No.  5,) 
iiiocidatcd  widi  blood,  nasal  discliaigc,  and  fo'cal  fluids,  were  also  sub- 
mitted to  the  influence  of  cohabitation. 

On  the  21st  of  January,  1852,  two  sick  cows  were  placed  in  this  stable. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  41 

One  of  tliese  cows  was  left  eighteen  days  in  the  stable,  and  then  killed 
to  serve  for  the  pnrpose  of  inoculation  experiments.  On  the  27th  of 
June  another  sick  cow  was  placed  in  the  same  stable. 

The  result  was  that  the  five  animals  from  Pomerage  resisted  the  dis- 
ease as  well  as  one  of  the  healthy  ones.  The  second  healthy  cow  was 
seized  with  the  malady  thirty-five  days  after  cohabitation. 

In  order  to  confirm  the  above  results,  the  commissioners  caused  to  be 
placed  in  stable  A  all  that  remained  of  the  first  herd.  On  the  6th  of 
July,  1852,  five  cows  were  sent  from  Paris  to  Pomerage.  Not  one  of  the 
animals  that  had  served  in  previous  experiments  contracted  the  disease. 

The  history  of  pleuropneumonia,  coupled  with  the  observations  made 
on  the  sui^posed  casual  agencies  cai)able  of  inducing  the  disease,  are 
almost  sufficient  to  establish  the  purely  contagious  nature  of  the  disease, 
but  there  are  several  important  proofs  that  deserve  mention. 

It  is  seen  in  all  countries  where  the  lung  plague  aj)pears,  that  it 
spreads  in  x^roportion  to  the  opportunities  of  contagion.  It  is  worst  in 
large  cities,  where  cow  feeders  have  to  make  frequent  purchases.  It  is 
apt  to  diminish  in  severity,  as  per  example,  in  the  city  of  Washington? 
in  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  elsewhere,  so  long  as  the  cows  are  confined  to 
stables  in  the  winter  and  different  herds  have  no  chance  of  approach. 
When  spring  and  fine  weather  arrive,  and  the  cows  are  turned  out  during 
part  of  the  day,  or  altogether,  on  commons,  parks,  or  pastures,  the  pres- 
ence of  any  infection  results  in  the  rapid  dissemination  of  the  disease. 
I  had  special  occasion  to  study  this  among  the  cows  turned  out  into  the 
Phoenix  Park,  Dublin,  and  on  the  commons  near  !N"ewcastle,  in  England. 

In  1802  I  chose  a  large  estate  in  Perthsliire,  presenting  the  feature  of 
being  cut  up  in  farms,  on  some  of  which  cattle  were  wholly  bred ; 
whereas,  on  others,  purchases  had  occasionally  been  made.  The  result 
was  the  demonstration  of  the  fact  that  the  disease  appeared  only  Avhere 
it  was  carried  by  diseased  cattle.  The  estate  was  that  of  Lord  Wii- 
loughby  d'Eresby,  comprising  twenty-six  farms,  on  eleven  of  which  the 
disease  was  at  different  times  imported ;  whereas  on  the  fifteen  other 
farms,  interspersed  between  eleven,  the  only  report  to  be  obtained  was, 
"Xever  had  the  disease.     Breeds  his  own  stock." 

A  similar  inquiry  relating  to  the  parish  of  St.  Martin,  in  Perthshire, 
showed  that  pleuropneumonia  had  appeared  there  in  1815.  Since  then 
ten  farms  have  been  visited  by  the  disease,  and  in  every  case  the  attack 
has  been  distinctly  traced  to  contact  with  diseased  cattle,  i^ineteen 
farms,  on  which  cattle  are  bred  and  purchases  rarely  made,  have  enjoyed 
a  perfect  immunity 

The  higli-prized  herds  of  England,  which  have  been  carefully  isolated 
by  their  proi)rietors,  have  always  remained  free  from  the  disease,  and 
short-horn  breeders  have,  in  many  instances,  exercised  the  greatest  care 
not  to  have  any  admixturi;  with  strange  animals,  which  would  certainly 
have  destroyed  their  stock. 

It  is  needless  entering  at  length  into  the  subject  of  authorities  on  this 


42  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

point.  The  voice  of  the  ablest  and  most  careful  observers,  who  have 
studied  i>]euro-pneumonia  practically,  is  unauinious  ou  the  point;  and 
althoufjh  in  every  country  the  tendency  has  been  at  first  to  regard  this 
insidious  disease  as  originating-  from  atmospheric  agencies,  when  tlie 
facts  have  been  probed  by  skillful  men,  the  earlier  opinions  have  been 
rejected.  Gerlach,  in  1835,  Delafond,  in  1844,  and  Sauberg,  in  1840, 
publishe    very  abundant  and  conclusive  testimony  on  this  point. 

THE  PATHOLOGY,  Oil  NATUEE  OF  THE  LUNG  PLAGUE. 

There  is  nothing  more  dangerous  and  better  calculated  to  retard  inquiry 
and  truth  than  the  common  practice  of  speculating  as  to  the  nature  of 
specific  diseases  in  men  and  animals  by  the  analogical  method.  Bovine 
pleuropneumonia  has  been  widely  supposed  to  be  an  inflammation  ot* 
the  lungs,  governed  by  the  same  conditions  that  operate  in  relation  to 
ordinary  inflammations  of  the  chest  in  the  human  family,  and,  indeed, 
in  all  mammalia.  The  characteristic  signs  of  small-pox  depend  on  a  cuta- 
neous inflammation,  but  have  apperauces  different  from  the  results  of  a 
scald.  It  is  as  rational  to  define  variola  inflammation  of  the  skin  as  it  is  to 
declare  that  the  lung  disease  of  cattle  is  an  inflammation  of  the  air  passage 
and  lungs.  The  local  phenomena  of  the  disease  are  associated  with  and 
characterized  by  inflammatory  changes,  but  the  cause  in  operation 
inducing  all  this  is  peculiar  and  specific. 

The  lung  plague  is  a  malignant  fever,  never  generated  dc  novo,  so  far 
as  reliable  observation  has  yet  reached,  dependent  on  the  introduction 
of  a  virus  or  contagion  into  the  system  of  a  healthy  animal.  This  prin- 
ciple produces  a  local  change  if  inserted  into  any  part  provided  with  a 
connective  or  fatty  tissue,  in  which  it  most  readily  penetrates.  The  same 
local  change  is  produced  by  its  contact  with  the  delicate  mucous  surface 
of  the  bronchial  tubes.  It  adheres,  spreads  not  unlike  cancer,  regard- 
less of  the  nature  and  importance  of  the  structure  it  invades,  and 
traverses  the  lym])hatic  vessels  to  form  deposits  in  the  neighboring 
lymphatic  glands,  but  not  generally  throughout  the  lymphatic  sys- 
tem. At  first  there  is  no  great  intensity  of  inflammation.  Suppuration 
is  only  a  later  complication  from  the  concomitant  nonspecific  change  in 
masses  of  areolar  or  connective  tissue.  Congestion  and  a  serous 
infiltration  rapidly  surround  the  spot  inoculated.  Heat,  redness,  pain, 
and  swelling  manifest  themselves,  aiul  the  reproduction  and  extension 
of  the  tissue-destroying  virus  may  be  judged  by  the  extent  of  swelling  ; 
the  amount  of  the  yellow  gelatinous  serosity  or  exudation  which  fills  the 
lung  tissue,  thickens  white  fibrous  structures,  blocks  up  the  adipose 
tissue  corpuscles  out  of  which  the  fat  is  displaced,  and  is  only  limited 
in  mauy  casi  s  by  the  amount  of  connective  tissue  it  can  invade,  by  gravi- 
tation or  otherwise,  and  the  endurance  of  the  animal  under  a  process  so 
]>rostrating  sind  d('])l('tive. 

Tliat  all  Ihis  happens,  we  have  tested  by  experiment.  A  susceptible 
auimaris  inoculated  in  the  dewlap,  and  at  the  expiration  of  a  week  or 


% 


THE    LUXG    PLA.GUE.  43 

nine  days  a  swelling"  begins,  infiltration  extends  beneath  the  chest  and 
abdomen,  involves  both  fore  legs,  is  attended  with  great  fever,  prostra- 
tion, and  death.  In  a  second  case,  a  drop  of  ^1rus  is  inserted  in  tlie  tip 
of  the  tail.  It  may  produce  a  scarcely  perceptible  local  change,  when 
suddenly  a  swelling  occurs  at  the  root  of  the  tail.  The  lymphatic 
glands  there  situated  swell,  the  areolar  tissue  is  distended  with  a  depcxsit, 
such  as  ordinarily  occurs  in  this  disease  in  the  thorax,  and  so  widely 
does  this  invade  the  open  tissues  of  the  x>elvis  as  to  close  the  rectum, 
sometimes  induce  retention  of  urine,  and,  in  the  majority  of  instances, 
kill. 

As  in  the  case  of  variolous  inoculation,  the  efl'ects  often  vary  with  the 
quantity  of  the  virus  introduced  into  a  part.  Many  and  deep  punc- 
tures, especially  in  soft  and  vascular  textures,  will  i)roduce  malignant 
variola  in  inoculating  sheep.  On  the  other  hand,  a  single  and  superficial 
puncture  results  in  a  single  i)ustule  and  imperceptible  general  symjjtoms. 
It  is  thus  with  the  lung  disease  in  cattle. 

The  slight  local  change  produced  by  a  small  quantity  of  ^nrus,  even 
though  it  has  been  impossible  to  note  any  systemic  disturbance,  stands 
for  an  attack  of  the  disease,  and  the  animal  enjoys  almost  a  ijerfect 
immunity  from  further  attacks. 

Viewed  in  this  light,  we  have  to  classify  bovine  pleuropneumonia 
with  the  contagions  fevers,  and  we  must  recognize  that  it  is  peculiar  and 
difterent  from  all  other  known  diseases  of  man  or  animals.  The  ordinary 
phenomena  of  intlammatious  are  but  superadded  conditions,  and  an 
animal  may  have  the  disease  without  indicating  their  presence, 

MEDICAL  TEEATMENT  OF  THE  LUIs^G  PLAGUE. 

A  general  and  i^ractical  review  of  the  means  employed  for  the  cure 
of  the  lun^-  disease  results  in  the  conviction  that,  as  a  means  to  be  relied 
on  for  the  protection  of  the  farmer's  stock  and  the  herds  of  a  country, 
they  are  worse  than  useless ;  and  it  is  necessary  to  impress  this  lesson 
on  the  public  mind,  as  there  are  always  those  who  base  their  futile 
efforts  in  this  respect  on  the  declaration  that  all  diseases  are  curable  if 
we  could  only  know  the  means  to  attack  them,  and  the  best  antidotes. 
When  science  has  sufiBciently  advanced,  it  is  thought  disease  will  lose 
all  its  power ;  and,  in  accordance  with  extravagant  views  in  this  direc- 
tion, men  and  animals  ought  to  attain  a  state  of  immortality  on  earth. 

It  is  an  undoubted  fact  that  wherever  rational  preventive  measures 
have  been  superseded  by  the  efforts  even  of  the  most  skilled  veterinary 
jiruotitiouers,  the  mortality  by  the  lung  idague  has  always  attained  its 
highest  point,  and  continued  without  intermission.  It  must  be  thus  to 
the  end  of  time. 

Nevertheless,  circumstances  arise  when  a  certain  relief  may  be  aif<u'ded 
by  remedial  agents.  A  valuable  animal  or  liiglily  prized  berd,  so 
isolated  from  otlier  stock  as  to  prevent  contagion,  may  be  subjected  to 


44  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

ratioTial  modicnl  treatment.  A  survey  of  the  means  sugi^ested  in  the 
past,  of  the  principles  which  sliouhl  guide  us  in  the  present  state  of 
knowkMlgc,  and  of  the  details  concerning  my  own  practice,  may,  there- 
fore, be  considered  important  in  tliis  plac<\ 

Bonrgclat,  in  1709,  recoiinnended  abundant  blood-letting  the  lirst,  sec- 
ond, and  third  day,  (when  the  blood  fails  to  coagulate,  it  is  a  sign  that 
this  operation  is  useless,)  emollient  injections,  bland  or  soothing  bev- 
erages, {hreuragcH  (idoKcismnfs,)  emollient  masticatories,  and  emollient 
fumigations  of  the  nose.  When  the  disease  is  far  advanced,  blood- 
letting must  be  avoided,  and  reliance  placed  in  cinchona  Ijark  and  pur- 
gative injections.  ]>onrgelat  also  i)rescribed  small  blood-lettings,  low 
diet,  emollient  clysters,  and  fumigations  of  acetic  acid  in  the  stables. 

There  is  little  interesting  on  this  subject  up  to  the  date  of  Belafond's 
work,  1844.  He  opens  his  chapter  on  the  curativ^e  means  of  acute 
pleuropneumonia  as  follows:  "Many  j)ersons  and  some  veterinarians 
have  sought  in  the  arsenal  of  pharmacology  the  specific  remedies  for 
the  cure  of  pleuropneumonia.  I  declare  that  for  the  cure  of  this  disease 
there  exists  no  specific,  but  rather  rational  curative  means  based  on  the 
nature,  seat,  and  stage  of  the  malady.  The  two  great  secrets,  in  my 
opinion,  are,  first,  in  recognizing  pleuro-pneumonia  at  its  commencement; 
and,  second,  in  adopting  the  means  that  I  have  to  describe." 

I  cannot,  with  fairness,  make  a  very  brief  summary  of  Delafond's 
recommendations,  and,  in  the  main,  shall  give  a  translation  of  them. 
When  pleuro-pneumonia,  he  says,  att'ects  a  herd  of  cattle,  the  first 
animal  affected  must  be  removed  and  placed  in  an  isolated  spot,  to  be 
carefully  examined  during  the  entire  i^rogress  of  the  case.  Frequent 
examinations  must  be  made  of  each  animal  in  the  herd.  All  that  show 
a  short,  quick  breathing,  numbering  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  respira- 
tions per  minute,  and  an  accelerated  pulse,  beating  from  sixty  to  sixty- 
five  times  per  minute,  in  which  the  chest  is  evidently  flattened  either  on 
one  side  or  the  other,  whose  respiratory  murmurs  will  be  loud  and 
associated  with  a  friction  sound,  and  Avhich  have  their  visible  mucous 
membranes  reddened,  must  be  regarded  as  subjects  which,  notwith- 
standing that  they  continue  to  eat  and  drink,  ruminate,  and  give  milk 
as  in  heal  til,  will  in  three  or  four  days  cease  to  eat,  ruminate,  and  give 
milk.  They  will  moan  and  indicate  all  the  signs  of  pleuro-pneumonia 
at  a  period  wlien  it  is  severe  and  often  incurable. 

An  animal  chosen  with  care  in  the  earliest  stage,  and  isolated,  must 
be  placed  on  low  diet,  and  oidy  allowed  a  little  green  grass  or  hay. 
From  six  to  eight  i)ounds  of  blood  must  be  drawn,  and  this  repeated 
eight  or  ten  hours  later.  As  soon  as  the  blood  has  ceased  to  flow,  the 
body  and  limbs  must  be  rubbed  for  half  an  hour  with  hay  or  straw 
wisps,  and  a  good  covering  must  be  thrown  over  the  body.  Three  hours 
after  the  first  bhu'ding,  and  every  two  hours  afterwards  for  sixteen  hours, 
a  draught  must  be  given,  consisting  of  one  drachm  of  emetic  tartar 
in  a  quart  of  river  or  si)ring  water.     For  animals  under  two  years  of  age 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  45 

the  dose  of  the  tartrate  of  antimony  should  be  half  a  drachm,  and  for 
animals  from  three  to  eight  years  of  age  a  drachm  and  a  half  each  time. 

After  the  second  bleeding  the  draughts  are  continued,  and  if,  after 
twelve  hours,  the  respirations  have  not  been  lowered  to  twenty  and 
three-and-twenty  per  minute,  a  third  abstraction  of  the  same  quantity 
of  blood  must  be  practiced.  If  the  pulse  becomes  strong  and  full,  the 
breathing  less  frequent,  the  mucous  membranes  paler,  and  especially  if 
the  respiratory  murmurs  are  less  loud,  it  may  be  considered  that  the 
animal  is  saved,  and  that  its  convalescence  will  be  short. 

Independently  of  the  bleedings  and  the  administration  of  emetic 
tartar,  about  fifteen  liters  of  water,  with  three  liters  of  barley,  may  be 
boiled,  throwing  off  the  first  water  and  adding  thirty  liters  more.  Two 
pounds  of  sulphate  of  soda  is  added  to  this  barley  tea,  and  one  liter  of 
this  mixture  is  given,  alternatively  with  the  emetic  every  three  hours. 

Marshmallows,  linseeds,  or  coarse  bran,  are  to  be  made  into  a  decoc- 
tion, and  administered  in  the  form  of  four  injections  daily.  This  same 
material  may  be  used  warm  to  steam  the  animal's  nostrils,  bj-  placing 
it  in  a  stable-pail  and  covering  the  animal's  head  and  the  pail  with  a 
large  cloth. 

These  measures,  says  Delafond,  must  be  continued  for  three  or  four 
days — indeed,  during  the  entire  first  period  of  the  disease ;  and  it  is  rare 
that  the  respiratory  movements  do  not  return  to  their  normal  condition. 
If  the  patient  purges,  injections  of  bran  decoction  are  recommended. 

Animals  that  indicate  a  yellow  or  paled  and  infiltrated  asj)ect  of  the 
conjunctiviB  must  be  bled  to  the  extent  of  one  liter  or  a  Liter  and  a  half 
daily,  as  heavy  blood-lettings  are  prejudicial  in  such  cases. 

When  pleuropneumonia  begins  by  an  inflammation  of  the  pleura,  the 
animal  must  be  bled  to  the  extent  of  two  or  foiu*  i)ounds  two  or  three 
times  dail3\  The  emetic  draughts  are  to  be  i)ersevered  in,  the  hodj  Avell 
rubbed  and  clothed,  and  the  sides  of  the  chest  must  be  rubbed  with  hot 
vinegar,  or  with  a  mixture  of  three  ounces  of  ammonia  to  one  ounce  of 
vinegar.  An  infusion,  in  two  liters  of  hot  vinegar,  of  a  pound  of  white  or 
black  hellebore,  or  of  the  large  horse-radish  sage  maybe  found  economical 
in  some  parts.  If  these  cannot  be  had,  a  blistering  tincture  may  be  pre- 
pared, as  follows :  Powdered  cautharides,  two  ounces ;  powdered  euphor- 
bium,  one  drachm ;  alcohol,  one-half  pound.  The  three  substances 
must  be  left  in  a  bottle  for  some  days,  and  then  filtered. 

If  the  symptoms  subside,  the  animal  is  to  be  kept  under  shelter  and 
on  moderate  diet.  If,  on  the  contrary,  the  pleurisy  terminates  in  effu- 
sion, and  the  lung  tissue  is  engorged  and  hepatized,  no  hopes  can  be 
entertained  of  the  animal's  recovery. 

When  the  lung  disease  commences  by  an  active  inflammation  of  the 
bronchial  tubes,  the  jugular  vein  must  be  freely  opened  and  from  six  to 
ten  pounds  of  blood  abstracted ;  other  emissions,  from  four  to  eight 
pounds  each,  must  be  repeated  for  two  or  three  days  each.  If  the 
inflammation  continues  and  spreads  to  the  lung  tissue,  the  dry  rubbing, 


46  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

einollioiit  fumiirntions,  and  injections  of  niarsliinallow  or  bran  deeoc- 
tiinis,  containing  three  onnces  of  snlpliate  of  soda,  must  be  persisted  in. 
This  treatment  unist  continue  four  or  iive  days  ;  but  if  the  conjL;li  per- 
sists, a  seton  must  be  inserted  in  the  dewhip,  and  the  seton  medicated 
Avith  the  vinegar  infusion  of  the  white  oy  bUick  hellebore.  When  the 
intlammation  subsides,  the  stcrjuitatory  vinegar  prescribed  by  Mathieu 
renders  good  service.  It  is  compouiuled  as  follows:  Alum,  sulphate  of 
zinc,  Spanish  pepper,  turpentine, one  ounce  each;  camphor,  two  drachms; 
strong  Burgundy  vinegar,  one  pint.  The  solid  substances  are  to  be 
powdered  and  mixed  Avith  the  vinegar  and  turpentine.  They  are  to  be 
macerated  for  eight  hours,  placed  in  a  well-corked  bottle,  and  well  shaken 
before  being  given  to  the  animal.  Three  times  a  day,  and  vihcn  the 
animal  is  fasting,  a  snuill  teaspoonful  of  vinegar  is  poured  into  one  or 
other  of  the  nostrils.  The  animals  that  have  once  had  this  operation 
performed  can  with  difticulty  be  induced  to  submit  to  it  again. 
Immediately  after  the  administration,  big  tears"  drop  from  the  eyes,  and 
violent  sneezing  tends  to  discharge  uiucosities  and  the  false  membranes 
wliich  obstruct  the  bronchial  tubes  and  nasal  cavities.  Should  the 
bronchitis  terminate  in  intlammation  of  the  pulmonary  tissue,  and  this 
pass  rapidly  into  a  state  of  hepatization,  further  measures  must  be 
resorted  to. 

When  pleuro-pneumonia  is  simple  or  complicated  by  pleurisy  or  bron- 
chitis, and  terminates  in  gangrene,  the  case  maybe  regarded  as  irreme- 
diable. The  same  is  true  if  there  is  an  abundant  etfusion  in  the  pleura. 
The  animal  soon  dies  asphyxiated. 

The  symptoms  of  a  severe  and  desperate  case  are  suspension  of  feed- 
ing and  rumination,  tympanitis,  or  distension  of  the  paunch  by  gas  im- 
mediately after  feeding,  pulse  from  sixty  to  seventy  and  small,  tender- 
ness on  pressure  of  the  sides  of  the  chest,  absence  of  respiratory  murmur 
and.  friction  sound,  short  and  moaning  expiration,  violent  heart-beats, 
driveling  at  the  mouth,  and  the  obstinate  maintenance  of  the  standbig 
posture.  It  is  difficult,  with  such  symptoms,  for  the  animal  to  recover, 
but  cases  of  slow  restoration  to  health  have  occurred. 

At  this  stage  the  animal  is  to  be  bled  only  to  the  extent  of  two  to 
four  pounds  lor  two  or  three  days.  The  emetic  drinks  must  not  be  given , 
but  the  sulphate  of  soda  persevered  with.  The  injections,  fumigations, 
and  dry  rul>bings  must  be  followed  up;  a  seton  and  one  or  two  rowels  on 
the  sides  of  the  chest  are  to  be  inserted.  A  little  easily-digested  food  is 
to  be  given  tlie  animal,  and  about  an  onnce  of  salt  daily.  If  the  mucous 
memlnaiu'  remains  i)ale  and  the  animal  feeble,  drinks  containing  vegeta- 
ble tonics,  such  as  gentian,  &c.,  nuist  be  used.  Dieterichs  vaunts  tar- 
water,  to  which  two  drachms  of  essence  of  turpentine  is  added,  and 
which  is  used  for  fifteen  or  twenty  days.  AVhen  an  animal  is  convales- 
cent it  may  be  turned  out  for  an  hour  or  two  during  line  weather.  A 
relapse  is  to  be  treated  by  a  slight  bleeding,  low  diet,  frictions,  and  sul- 
phate of  soda. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  47 

Sucli  are  the  long  aud  precise  recommendations  which  Delafond  gave, 
and  which  may  be  vie\ved,  in  the  main,  as  measures  trom  first  to  hist  to 
be  scrupulously  avoided.  Delafond's  belief  in  the  treatment  he  recom- 
mends as  benefiting  sick  animals,  is  but  one  of  innumerable  instances  of 
men  being  misled  by  nature's  own  recuperative  powders. 

Sanberg,  in  his  prize  essay  published  in  1840,  devoted  a  chapter  to 
the  therapeutics  of  pleuro-pneumonia,  but  he  is  not  sparing  in  words  of 
caution,  and  in  impressing  on  the  minds  of  agriculturists  that  there  is  no 
specific  against  the  disease.*  He  indorses  Delafond's  practice  of  blood- 
letting, and  says  that  if  this  is  resorted  to  at  the  right  time  the  animal 
improves  at  once.  If  the  patient  is  young,  robust,  in  good  condition;  if 
the  mucous  membranes  are  red,  the  pulse  small,  hard,  and  frequent, 
breathing  short  and  quick,  heart-beats  scarcely  to  be  felt,  then  from  ten 
to  fifteen  or  twenty  pounds  of  blood  must  be  abstracted.  It  is  only  by 
this  means,  says  Sanberg,  that  the  abundant  exudation  of  plastic  lymph 
in  the  lungs,  as  well  as  other  evil  results  can  be  averted.  If  no  improve- 
ment is  observed  within  eighteen  or  twenty-four  hours,  a  second  and  even 
larger  blood-letting  must  be  performed.  After  the  fifth  day  of  an  attack 
of  pleuro-pneumonia  Sanberg  never  bled,  and  whenever  he  did  so,  he  ob- 
served great  prostration  and  even  death.  It  is  evident,  he  says,  that 
whereas  an  early  bleeding  may  prevent  the  exudation,  should  this  have 
taken  place,  the  loss  of  blood  may  undermine  the  vital  powers  so  as  to 
prevent  the  possibility  of  recovery. 

Sanberg  is  one  of  the  strongest  advocates  of  derivatives.  He  recom- 
mends a  seton  on  the  dewlap,  or  one  on  either  side  of  the  chest.  He 
also  advises  a  blister  spread  over  a  surface  deprived  of  hair  to  the  extent 
of  a  man's  hand,  behind  each  shoulder  blade.  The  vesicant  he  uses  is  a 
compound  of  potassio  tartrate  of  antimony,  powdered  cantharides,  and 
enphorbium,  of  each  three  quentchen,  lard  four  loth,  and  one  loth  of  oil 
of  turpentine.  He  also  suggests  the  application  of  the  red-hot  iron  to 
the  sides  of  the  chest.  In  slight  cases  rowels  dressed  with  black  helle- 
bore suffice.  The  quicker  and  more  active  the  results  of  these  applica- 
tions, the  more  favorable  is  their  operation. 

The  internal  remedies  recommended  by  Sauberg,  consist  mainly  in 
tartar  emetic,  which,  he  says,  is  attended  with  the  best  results.  He 
gives  it  in  the  morning  in  one  or  two  drachm  doses,  with  two  or  three  ounces 
of  sulphate  of  soda,  an  ounce  of  nitrate  of  potash,  and  a  half  an  ounce 


*At  page  131  of  Sauberj^'s  work,  akeady  quotctl,  the  author  says:  "  Wir  haheii  kein 
Arcanum  gegeu  die  Luugeuseuclic  dcs  lliudviehes  und  Avenh'U  aueh  kt.'ir.s  tiudcii; 
wenn  man  nur  beriicksichtigt  wie  die  Krankheit  bei  dcu  eiiizclncu  Tliieren  so  verschie- 
den  ist,  und  die  Mittel,  die  bei  eiiiem  Kranken  niit  Xut/.cn  angi-wandt  wuvib'ii,  bei  deni 
anderen,  wcun  nicht  Naehtheile,  docli  nicht  gleich  giliistige  Erfolge  zu  Wcgc;  l>i;i(  litcii, 
80  wird  man  sich  wohl  bescheiden.  Wo  der  Landmann  die  Beliaudhiug  <hr  Krank<ii 
nicht  einem  Thierarzt  auvertrauen  kann  oder  will,  sollte  er  nur  nach  allgciiieiniii  ( iriiud- 
siitzcn  verfahren,  cine  zweckmilssige  DiJit  anorduen,  und  nicht  sein  Ilcil  in  kostbaren 
Mittelii  sucben,  der  V(u-breitung  der  8(-ucbe  nioglicbst  vorbauen,  und  wn  Ilcilung  der 
Erkrankteu  nicht  moglich  ist,  das  Schlachten  vorziehen." 


48  DEPARTMENT    OF    AbmCULTURE. 

of  powdered  jnnipor  berries.  Tliis  has  an  effect  on  the  animal's  bovrels. 
In  gastric  or  bilious  complications  he  gives  the  emetic  tartar  in  t\vo  or 
four  ounces  of  whitt^  sou]). 

Wlicu  the  fever  is  slij;'lit,  the  coujj;li  stronii:,  and  appetite  good,  Sau- 
berg  advises  not  to  bleed,  and  the  same  applies  to  old  and  weak  animals, 
especially  cows  liable  to  abort,  «&c.  He  still  persists  in  the  tartarized 
antimony,  and  gives  it  with  from  ten  to  sixty  grains  of  assaf(Btida,  and  an 
ounce  of  powdered  juniper  berries,  twice  daily  in  water.  Bitter  herbs, 
oil  of  turpentine,  camphor,  tar  water,  arnica,  fennel,  &c.,  are  remedies 
suggested. 

A  wise  i)nH'aution  is  insisted  on  by  Sauberg,  and  that  is  to  avoid  a 
profuse  and  debilitating  purgation. 

The  practice  recommended  by  Delafond  and  Sauberg  has  very  largely 
been  carried  out  and  recommended  by  other  authors,  such  as  Kreutzer, 
Roll,  &c.,  even  of  late.  Roll  adds  to  the  treatment  by  bleeding,  tartar 
emetic,  &c.,  the  administration,  in  cachectic  and  feeble  animals,  of  sul- 
phate of  iron  with  tar  water,  or  of  alum,  tannin,  mineral  acids,  and 
other  tonics. 

In  England  many  practitioners  have  resorted  to  various  methods  of 
treatment.  It  is  long  since  the  practice  of  blood-letting  has  been  done 
away  with,  but  the  advocates  of  setons,  and  more  particularly  of  active 
blisters,  such  as  croton  oil,  cantharides,  tartar  emetic  ointment,  still 
exist.  Small  doses  of  calomel  and  tartar  emetic,  stimulating  draughts 
containing  creosote,  turpentine,  sulphuric  ether,  carbonate  of  ammonia, 
and  alcohol,  have  been  more  generally  employed.  IMineral  acids,  the 
administration  daily  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  especially,  and  an  early 
resort  to  mineral  and  vegetable  tonics,  have  found  their  advocates.  Of 
late  years  the  tincture  of  aconite  has  been  vaunted  as  a  febrifuge,  and 
largely  used,  and  some  have  tried  Indian  hemp  and  other  narcotics. 
Anything  and  everything  has  been  tried,  and  without  much  reasoning 
or  carefid  record  of  results.  The  important  feature  salient  in  the  his- 
tory of  pleuro-pneumonia  in  England,  is  that  all  the  therapeutic  skill  of 
the  veterinarian  has  not  prevented  greater  and  more  general  losses, 
than  have  ever  been  witnessed  in  other  countries,  if  we  may  except 
Holland. 

For  some  years  I  have  noticed  that  the  earlier  lesions  of  the  lung  dis- 
ease partake,  in  their  character  and  results,  more  of  the  features  of  hem- 
orrhage— a  prostrating  discharge  from  the  blood  vessels  of  a  sero-albumi- 
uous  product — than  of  inflammation.  The  congestion  and  inflammation  are 
truly  secondary,  and  once  developed  it  is  apparently  impossible  to  control 
them,  though  tlicirexti'iit  varies  greatly.  In  some  animals  but  a  ])ortion  of 
one  lung  is  involved,  in  others,  one  entire  organ  is  affected,  and  in  others, 
which  cases  are  almost  without  exception  fatal,  both  lungs  become  h.Tpa- 
tized,  and  the  animal  dies  sooner  ov  later  of  apna^a  or  suffocation. 

Notwithstanding  tlic  well-founded  objection  of  some  distinguished 
veterinarians  to  the  practice  of  administering  mineral  astringents  as 


THE    LUNG   PLAGUE.  49 

preservatives — an  objection  to  which  Professor  Nicklas  gave  utterance 
at  the  first  international  veterinary  congress  hekl  in  Hamburg  in  18G3 — 
it  is  certain  that  they  far  surpass  all  other  means  in  the  treatment  of  the 
early  stages  of  the  lung  plague.  Professor  Mcklas  said  with  much  truth 
that  where  pleuropneumonia  appeared  there  were  often  persons  who  pre- 
scribed sulphate  of  iron  to  check  the  progress  of  the  disease ;  the  isola- 
tion of  such  cattle  was  not  attended  to,  and  the  malady  continued. 
Whereas  if  the  sick  were  isolated,  or  slaughtered,  and  the  remaiuing 
animals  of  a  herd  inoculated,  there  would  be  an  end  to  the  outbreak. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  if  attention  be  paid  to  the  segregation  of  the 
sick,  and  those  indubitably  free  from  the  disease  were  inoculated,  there 
is  still  a  number,  and  often  not  a  small  one,  sure  to  die  within  a  month 
or  six  weeks,  simply  because  inocvdated  too  late.  These  animals,  if 
of  great  value,  and  proper  facilities  are  afforded  for  treatment  without 
inciuTing  the  risk  of  extensions  of  the  malady,  may  often  be  treated 
with  success. 

Thermometer  in  hand,  a  good  observer  and  anscultator  can  detect, 
some  days — and  even  as  long  as  ten  days  or  a  fortnight — before  marked 
symptoms  appear,  the  invasion  of  this  disease.  At  that  stage  the 
peculiar  yellow  deposit  which  first  slowly  invades  the  interlobular  tissue 
of  the  lungs  is  penetrating  into  the  organ,  and  its  extension  may,  as  I 
have  noticed  frequently,  be  checked  by  active  internal  astringents.  The 
best  of  these  are  the  sesquichloride  and  the  sulphate  of  iron.  But  our 
choice  extends  further,  since  vegetable  infusions  or  decoctions  contain- 
ing tannin,  besides  the  astringent  preparations  of  lead,  may  likewise 
retard  and  arrest  the  exudation. 

1  have  on  several  occasions  been  called  to  prescribe  for  herds  iu  which 
I  have  readily  traced  cases  of  pleuro-pneumonia  in  advanced  stages  of 
the  disease.  I  have  removed  the  marked  symptoms,  and  still  a  large 
proportion  of  the  animals  had  the  peculiar  cough  so  well  noticed  by  the 
French  commission,  yet  to  have  neglected  means  to  arrest  the  disease 
would  have  resulted  iu  many  deaths.  Before  I  was  led  to  approve,  as  I 
do  strongly,  of  the  practice  of  inoculation,  and  since  when  there  haye 
been  insuperable  obstacles  to  its  adoption,  I  have  placed  all  the  herd, 
sometimes  in  the  stable  and  at  other  times  in  the  open  field,  on  regular 
daily  doses  of  sulphate  of  iron,  allowing  about  half  a  drachm  or  a 
drachm  to  a  bullock,  mixed  with  a  similar  amount  of  bruised  coriander 
seeds,  and  perhaps  some  bran,  the  better  to  disguise  the  iron.  Thus 
mixed  with  fresh  coriander  seeds,  cattle  will  leave  grass  to  eat  the 
medicine,  and  I  have  uniforndy  found  a  mitigation  of  the  cough,  a  dis- 
appearance of  the  malady,  and  the  herds  have  preserved  an  admirable 
condition. 

I  can  confirm  Sauberg's  statement  that  it  is  dangerous  to  resort  to 

active  purgatives,  and  the  common  symptom,  even  in  the  earlier  stages 

of  i)leuro-pneumonia,  of  constipation,  can  be  better  corrected  by  diet  and 

the  administration  of  a  stinudant,  such  as  carbonate  of  ammonia,  com- 

4 


50  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

biued  with  wnnu  water  injections,  than  by  any  other  phm.  When  the 
exndation  in  tlie  hmj;'  tissne  is  not  checked,  and  in  all  cases  where  it  has 
advanced  too  far  to  admit  of  beinj;-  checked  by  capillary  astringents,  it 
is,  as  a  rnle,  desirable  to  leave  aniinals  entirely  to  nature. 

The  observation  of  many  hundred  cases  for  the  past  fifteen  years  has 
convinced  me  that,  left  entirely  to  themselves,  when  the  malady  has 
fairly  developed,  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  cattle  affected  in  one 
lung  recover,  whereas  nearly  all  those  affected  on  both  sides  die.  The 
many  methods  of  treatment  recommended  have  not  seemed  to  increase 
the  usual  average  number  of  cases  of  one-sided  pluero-pueumonia  which 
generally  recover. 

It  is  extremely  diliicult  to  ascertain  the  conditions  under  which  a 
small  or  a  great  mortality  may  be  anticipated.  This  may  be  gleaned 
from  the  observations  of  the  French  commission.  They  found  some 
animals  which  apparently  resisted  the  disease.  These  Avere  doubtless 
latent  cases,  as  they  afterwards  resisted  contagion.  If  this  be  admitted, 
the  mortality  amounted  to  thirty  per  cent,  of  the  animals  affected,  and 
this  mortality  is  infinitely  less  than  that  observed  frequently  under  cir- 
cumstances which  would  appear  most  favorable  to  the  health  of  cattle 
and  their  resistance  to  disease. 

It.has  been  seen  that  as  far  back  as  1769  fumigations  were  recom- 
mended for  the  treatment  of  pleuro-pneumouia.  Of  late  years  carbolic 
acid  has  been  strongly  recommended  for  this  purpose,  and  may  prove 
beneficial.  Its  internal  administration  failed  many  years  ago,  when ,  under 
the  name  of  creosote — for  much  of  our  foreign  creosote  is  carbolic  acid — it 
was  used  esiiuecially  by  a  distinguished  English  veterinarian,  Mr.  Charles 
Hunting,  of  Feme  Houses,  near  Durham.  The  employment  of  anti- 
septics comes  properly  under  the  head  of  preventive  measures,  which 
are  considered  in  a  subsequent  section  of  this  report. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  authorities  in  favor  of  blisters,  setons, 
rowels,  and  even  the  hot  iron,  I  must  assert,  from  carefid  observation, 
that  in  the  acute  stages  of  the  disease  they  invariably  aggravate  the 
malady  and  sometimes  kill.  There  are  instances  which  indicate  the 
contrary,  for  w^hen  examining  cases  in  Pennsylvania  I  was  told  by  a 
farmer  that  his  cattle  were  dying,  and  he  called  in  a  professional  man 
who  blistered  severely  and  cured  several.  They  would  probably  have 
recovered  if  left  to  nature,  though  it  is  possible  that  in  some  cases 
counter-iiTitants  may  be  useful.  The  diificulty  is  to  choose  those  cases ; 
and,  as  a  rule,  I  am  satisfied  that  any  but  the  mildest  stimulants  applied 
to  the  skin  irritate  and  do  harm. 

It  is  higlily  imi)ortant  that  any  medicines  given  to  cattle  with  this 
disease  should  be  given  carefully,  to  avoid  choking.  Farmers  are  often 
very  rough  in  giving  drenches  to  cattle.  They  should  go  up  to  the  off 
shoulder  of  the  animal,  pass  the  left  hand  in  the  angle  of  the  mouth 
on  th(;  left  side,  draw  the  head  around  gently,  without  unduly  elevating 
it,  and  pour  the  diaught  out  of  a  small  horn  in  moderate  quantities. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  51 

giving  tlie  <animal  time  to  swallow.  I  remember,  as  far  back  as  1851 , 
being  asked  by  a  Yorkshire  veterinarian  to  prepare  a  nnniber  of 
draughts,  the  active  agent  of  which  was  carbonate  of  ammonia,  for  a 
herd  of  cows  affected  with  the  lung  disease.  The  draughts  were  sup- 
l)lied  to  the  farmer,  and  the  very  first  day  they  were  being  administered 
by  himself  and  servants,  according  to  order,  in  gruel,  a  messenger  sum- 
moned me  to  attend  an  animal  which  had  been  killed  by  the  medicine. 
On  arriving  at  the  farmer's,  I  perceived  from  the  aninml's  breathing, 
tremors,  difficulty  in  standing,  anxious  expression  of  countenance,  pro- 
truding and  blood- shot  eye-balls,  that  it  was  choking.  I  informed  the 
farmer  of  the  fact  that  the  drench  had  been  poured  the  wrong  way,  and 
since  he  was  indignant  at  the  declaration,  I  opened  the  trachea  with  my 
penknife,  and  in  a  fit  of  coughing  a  quantity  of  gruel,  smelling  strongly 
of  ammonia,  was  forcibly  ejected.  This  alone  saved  the  reputation  of  the 
medicine  and  its  compounder. 

INOCULATION  OF  THE  LUNG  PLAGUE. 

In  1S3G  pleuropneumonia  was  imported  from  Flanders  among  cattle 
fed  at  the  distillery  of  Messrs.  Willems  &  Platel,  at  Hasselt,  in  Bel- 
gium. The  town  was  rich  in  horned  stock,  and  the  maladj'  formed  one 
of  its  fixed  stations,  and  continued  uninterru.ptedly  from  183G  to  1852. 
Dr.  Didot*  ascertained  beyond  a  doubt,  by  personal  inquiries  among  the 
Hasselt  distillers,  that  this  was  a  fact,  and  that  the  disease  had  never 
been  absent  from  their  stables  during  these  sixteen  years.  The  Belgian 
government  had  adopted  a  partial  system  of  slaughter  to  stamp  out  the 
disease ;  but  the  indemnity  was  small,  and  the  distillers  found  it  more 
X)rofitable  to  sell  their  cattle  to  butchers ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  Hasselt, 
Liege,  Louvaiu,  Terlemont,  Brussels,  and  Antwerp,  were  supplied  with 
a  large  amount  of  diseased  meat.  Dr.  Didot  learned  that  whereas  gov- 
ernment officials  slaughtered  one  or  two  per  cent,  of  the  infected  ani- 
mals, the  butchers  purchased  and  disposed  of  fifteen,  twenty,  or  twenty- 
five  animals  per  week,  according  to  the  extent  of  the  outbreaks.  In  the 
tovai  of  Hasselt  alone  it  is  computed  by  the  same  authority  that  16,540 
head  of  sick  cattle  were  consumed  during  the  above  period.  The  gov- 
ernment paid  one-third  of  the  value  of  815  head  of  cattle  during  the  same 
j)eriod.  So  late  as  1851  M.  Maris,  one  of  the  government  veterinary 
surgeons  at  Hasselt,  saw  1,300  cases  of  limg  disease  in  that  city  alone. 

From  1810  to  1850t  the  value  of  the  horned  stock  lost  by  pleuro-pneu- 
monia  in  Belgium  amounted  to  2,531,109  francs  and  30  cents.  The  sum 
paid  by  the  government  in  indemnities  amounted  to  1,751,777  francs  and 
40  cents.  The  disease  continued  unabated  in  1851  and  1852.  Every 
effort  had  been  made  by  the  distillers  to  arrest  the  disorder — ventiUi- 

*  Denx  Jonrs  h  Hcasselt.    Essai  sur  L'liioculatioii  dc  la  rieuro-piieumouic  Ex,sudativc 
ties  Botes  Bovines.     BnixellcH,  1853. 
t  Kapport  (I6cenual  de  1840  it,  1850.    R6Hiim6  8tati^stiquc.    Page  10. 


52 


DErARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


tioii,  fiimijiation,  wliitewasliing-,  turning  the  cattle  out  for  a  period,  the 


phicin 


;.  1>» 


p'- 


iu  the  stables,  under  the  impression  that  they  might  destroy 


the  putrid  materials  supposed  to  engender  the  disease,  and  so  on. 

It  so  happened  that  the  son  of  the  senior  member  of  the  first  firm  of 
distillors  whose  cattle  had  been  affected  in  1S3G  had  devoted  himself  to 
medicine.     Dr.  Willems  studied  the  luug  disease  with  discrimination, 
but  even  so  late  as  1850  he  had  not  fully  made  up  his  mind  as  to  the 
essentially  contagious  character  of  pleuropneumonia.    Dieterichs  had 
attempted  the  inoculation  of  the  disease  in  order  to  prove  its  contagious 
character,  and  had  failed.     Vix  repeated  the  experiments,  and  obtained 
results  in  the  form  of  pneumonia,  a  pneumonia,  says  Dr.  AVillems,*  due 
iu  all  probability  to  purulent  infectiou.     The  French  commission  inocu- 
lated cows  with  the  blood,  nasal  discharge,  and  excrementitial  fluids,  in 
order  to  test  the  contagious  properties  of  pleuropneumonia.     Dr.  Wil- 
lems had,  moreover,  observed  that  in  his  father's  stables  there  had  been 
since  1836  over  500  animals  that  had  suffered  from  pleuro-pneumonia,  a 
considerable  number  of  which  had  recovered,  and  remained  ever  after 
free  from  the  disease.    Yvart,  Lafosse,  Verheyen,  and  Petry  had  made 
similar  observations.    These  facts  led  Dr.  Willems  to  institute  a  series 
of  experiments  as  to  the  possibility  of  communicating  the  disease  by 
inoculation,  and  the  extent,  if  any,  of  the  immunity  thus  secured  to  cat- 
tle. 

Dr.  Willems  adopted  the  rational  plan  of  performing  experiments  on 
animals  of  different  species.     His  first  was  as  follows : 


Date. 


Material  inoculated. 


Dec.  23,  1850.    Pulmonary  exudation 
Feb.  10,  1851 


June  19,  1851 


July  16,  1851 


eb.  26,  1852 


Nasal  discharges 

Intestinal  tubercle  squeezed  in 

sirup. 
Pulmonary  exudation 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Pulmonary  exudation 

Do 

Do 

Do 


Liquid  from  tlie  lungs  used  to 
inoculate  my  cattle. 


Animal  inoculated. 


Three  rabbits. 


Two  rabbits. 
One  rabbit.. 


Twelve  pea  fowls 

Several  chickens 

One  dog 

Two  goats 

One  sheep.. 

One  English  pig 

Three  Belgian  pigs... 

One  sheep 

One  ram 

Oue  dog 

Eight  pea  fowls 

("Two  dogs 

■i  Tliree  Belgian  pigs. 

[Three  i)pa  fowls 

Four  hens 


Seat  of  inoculation. 


r  Thigh 


Neclt..- 
t  Thorax. 

Nose 

Thigh... 


Thigh  . 
Thigh. 
Tail . . . 
Tail... 
Tail . . . 
Tail... 
Tail... 
Tail... 
Tail... 
Tail... 
Tail... 
Tail... 
Tail... 
Thigh. 
Thigh 


Result. 


None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 

None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 
None. 


*  M<5in<)ir<-  snv  l;i  I'rripiiiiiiiKniic  fipizoiWiiinc  du  GrosBdtail,  par  L.  Willems,  Docteur 
en  Medicine  a  Hasselt,  lU. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  53 

Dr.  Willems  observed  that  inoculations  whicli  were  usually  accideutal 
in  man  were  unattended  by  ill  effects. 

A  second  series  of  experiments  was  performed  on  cattle.  The  first 
group  of  these  was  as  follows: 


Date. 

Material  inoculated. 

Animal  inoculated. 

Seat  of  inoculation. 

Result. 

Feb.  10,  1851. 

Blood  from  sick  bullock 

Mucous  from  mouth  of  sick 

bullock. 
Intestinal   tubercle   broken 

up  in  sugar  and  water 

A  small  bullock 

A  bullock 

Root  of  tail 

Root  of  tail 

Root  of  tail 

Root  of  tail 

Slight  inflammation. 
Slight  inflammation. 

A  bullock      ....... 

Slight  inflammation. 

A  bullock 

Slight  inflammation. 

The  second  group  of  observations  is  indicated  below: 


Date. 

Material  inoculated. 

Animal  inoculated. 

Seat  of  inoculation. 

March  5,  1851. 

Pulmonarv  exudation  ....  ....... 

Two  lean  bullocks 

Five  lean  bullocks 

Root  of  tail. 

Pnlmonarv  exudation   ........... 

With  two  punctures  on  the  nose. 

Fifteen  days  after  the  inoculation  small  tumors  were  observed  at  the 
root  of  the  tail,  so  as  to  cause  this  organ  to  be  slightly  raised.  In  one 
the  tumor  speedily  disappeared;  in  the  other  the  swelling  enlarged, 
became  very  hard,  attained  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg,  was  situated  between 
the  anus  and  the  root  of  the  tail,  and  yielded  gradually,  without  suppu- 
rating, to  scarifi(;ations  and  a  saline  purgative. 

Of  the  five  other  bullocks  four  showed  no  signs;  the  fifth,  three  weeks 
after  the  inoculation,  manifested  a  swelling  of  the  head  on  the  operated 
side.  Two  incisions  were  made,  emollients  applied,  and  a  purgative 
administered.  Low  diet  was  also  prescribed.  On  the  20th  of  April  the 
whole  side  of  the  head  was  swollen  and  almost  of  scirrhous  hardness. 
Two  deep  incisions  were  made  without  finding  pus.  In  the  nose,  at  tlie 
point  where  the  inoculation  was  performed,  was  a  wound  of  unhealthy 
aspect  from  which  a  sanious  pus  was  discharged.  The  ox  grew  lean.  On 
the  17th  of  May  a  little  pus  flowed  from  the  two  incisions  made  on  the 
20th  of  April;  afterwards  much  pus  flowed  from  these  incisions,  as  well 
as  shreds  of  areolar  tissue  and  portions  of  dead  skin.  The  tuinor  was 
subsiding.  On  the  22d  of  May  a  fluctuating  tumor  appeared  below  the 
j  aAvs,  from  whicli  much  indolent-looking  jms  escaped.  From  that  moment 
the  ox  began  to  thrive,  notwithstanding  that  the  suppurations  continued 
till  the  5th  of  June.  By  the  10th  of  June  recovery  was  complete.  Br. 
Willems  despaired  for  several  days  of  this  animars  return  to  health,  and 
he  resolved  not  to  inoculate  again  in  the  same  region. 

THIRD   GROUP   OF   OBSERVATIONS. 

On  the  10th  of  May  Dr.  Willems  inoculated  nine  Dutch  bullocks  and 
two  lean  Belgian  cows.     He  made  two  punctures  in  the  tail  of  each  and 


54  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

used  blood  expressed  from  the  muscles  and  liquid  squeezed  out  of  the 
lung  of  a  cow  .sutt'ering under  the  third  stage  of  pleuropneumonia. 

Severalbullocks  showed  the  effects  of  inoculation  by  the  10th  of  May  ; 
two  more  severely  than  the  rest.  On  the  21st  of  IMay  there  was  a  decided 
swelling  of  the  tail  in  six  bullocks  and  one  cow.  Incisions  were  made  to 
relieve  the  parts,  emollients  applied,  and  purgatives  administered. 

On  the  20th  of  May  seven  out  of  the  nine  bullocks  and  one  cow  pre- 
sented considerable  tumefaction  at  the  root  of  the  tail;  incisions  and 
emollients  were  resorted  to.  On  the  31st  of  May  the  swelling  of  the 
parts  inoculated  disappeared,  and  the  animals  regained  their  appetite  and 
vivacity. 

Two  of  the  nine  bullocks  by  this  time  suffered  much ;  the  root  of  the 
tail,  the  tissues  around  the  anus,  and  the  nates,  were  consolidated  and 
enlarged  by  a  deposit.  In  spite  of  all  efforts,  the  free  excision  of  the  ma- 
terial so  as  to  produce  an  artificial  anus,  the  obstacle  to  defecation  was  so 
great,  the  straining  so  violent  and  constant,  and  the  vital  iiowerssunk  so 
low,  that  on  the  8tli  of  June  they  died.  Dr.  Willems  observed  that  in 
incising  these  tumors  the  animals  suffered  no  pain. 

On  the  Otli  of  June  these  animals  were  dissected.  One  presented  a 
general  health  of  the  internal  organs.  The  lesions  were  localized  in  the 
anal  region.  The  muscles  and  other  tissues  around  were  of  a  pale  red 
color,  interspersed  by  degenerated  tissue.  There  was  no  suppuration.  The 
anus  and  its  siuToundings  for  at  least  twelve  inches  in  diameter  appeared 
gangrenous.  The  lungs  were  of  dark  color,  slightly  congested,  and  pre- 
senting but  the  slightest  trace  of  marbled  hepatization.  The  gall  blad- 
der was  found  full  of  black  dense  bile.  There  was  slight  serous  effusion 
in  the  peritoneum,  and  the  mucous  lining  of  the  intestines  presented  red 
or  brown  punctiform  discolorations  and  some  patches  of  red  injection. 

In  the  second  bullock  the  lesions  were  more  extensive.  The  mortifi- 
cation of  tissues  extended  up  the  rectum  a  distance  of  six  inches.  The 
peritoueunr  was  inflamed,  in  some  parts  adherent  by  its  opposing  sur- 
faces, and  a  reddish  serositj'  was  effused  in  its  cavity.  The  liver  was 
softened,  degenerated,  of  a  light  yellowish  color.  The  mucous  membrane 
of  the  tongue  and  windpipe  was  of  a  dark  brovvni  color.  The  lungs  were 
black,  flaccid,  and  in  the  pleimil  sacs  was  a  citrine-colored  serous 
exudation.  In  the  general  disorganization  of  the  organs  of  this  animal 
the  most  interesting  feature  was  a  number  of  cysts,  with  delicate  walls, 
distended  by  a  dried  homogeneous  material  similar  to  that  inclosed  in 
the  intestinal  tubercles  of  animals  that  die  of  pleuro-pneumonia.  Some 
of  these  little  saccules  were  in  the  folds  of  the  peritoneum,  but  the  major- 
ity, at  least  sixty,  were  in  the  thorax  and  on  the  internal  surface  of  the 
ribs. 


THE    LUNG   PLAGUE. 


55 


FOURTH   GROUP  OF  OBSERVATIONS. 

Alarmed  by  the  foregoing  results,  Dr.  Willems  determiued  on  attempt- 
ing inoculation  at  the  tip  of  the  tail,  as  follows : 


Date. 


.Tune  19,  1851 


Material  used. 


Pulmonary  exudation  from  an  animal  in  the 

first  stage  of  disease. 
Pulmonary  exudation  from  an  animal  in  the 

first  stage  of  disease. 
Pulmonary  exudation  from  an  animal  in  the 

first  stage  of  disease. 
Pulmonary  exudation  from  an  animal  in  the 

first  stage  of  disease. 


Animals  inoculated. 


Five  lean  Belgian  buUocliS... 
One  Dutch  bullock 


Seat  of  inocu- 
lation. 


One  calf  two  months  old. 


One  calf  three  months  old 


Tip  of  tail. 

Tip  of  tail. 

Tip  of  tail. 

Tip  of  tail. 


On  the  30th  of  June  a  slight  swelling  was  observed  in  the  parts  inocu- 
lated, with  the  exception  of  one  bullock  and  two  calves.  The  symptoms 
of  inflammation  advanced,  and  on  the  22d  of  July  the  tip  of  the  tail  of 
four  bullocks  was  completely  gangrenous  and  detached.  From  that 
moment  the  animals  imjiroved. 

FIFTH   GROUP   OF-  OBSERVATIONS. 


Date. 

Material  used. 

Animals  inoculated. 

Seat  of  inocu- 
lation. 

Result. 

June  26,  1851 . 

Pulmonary    exudation 

Twelve  indigenous  bul- 

Tip of  tail... 

Slight  swelling  on  the  26th 

from  animal  in  first 

locks. 

of  July,  and  speedy  re- 

stage of  disease. 

covery. 

Pulmonary    exudation 
from  animal  in  first 

Two  heifers  ........... 

Tip  of  tail. 

stage  of  disease. 

SIXTH   GROUP  OF   OBSERVATIONS. 


Date. 

Material  used. 

Animals  inoculated. 

Seat  of  inoculation. 

July  16,  1851. 

Twelve  lean  bullocks 

Tip  of  tail. 

Tin 

One  heifer. .,.---.-..-..--.•----. 

Tip  of  tail. 

Do                                          

One  Dutch  bull 

Tin  of  tail. 

Do                                    

A  calf  four  days  old 

Tip  of  tail. 

On  the  24th  of  July  four  showed  swelling  of  the  tail;  on  the  29th  all 
had  the  enlargement,  and  on  the  10th  of  August  Dr.  Willems  ampu- 
tated the  tail-tips  of  four. 


56 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


SEVENTH   GROUP  OF  OBSERVATIONS. 


Date. 

Material  used. 

Animals  inoculated. 

* 

Seat  of  inoculation. 

Aug.  18,  1851. 

Pulinoimry  liquid  from  a  bullock 
in  third  stage  of  disease. 

Seven  lean  two-year  old  bullocks. 

Tip  of  tail. 

Pulmonary  liquid  from  a  bullock 

One  Dutch  milch  cow 

Tip  of  taU. 

in  third  stage  of  disi-iise. 

Pulinouary  liquid  from  a  bullock 

Fourteen  leau  bullocks,  from  three 

Tip  of  tail. 

in  third  stage  of  disease. 

to  four  years  old. 

Puhiionury  liquid  from  a  bullock 
in  third  stage  of  disease. 

Tip  of  tail. 

• 

On  the  9tli  of  September  the  Dutch  cow  aud  two  bullocks  presented 
tlie  first  symptoms,  aiid  all  the  rest  showed  sigus  ou  the  lith,  aud  after- 
wards recovered. 

EIGrHTH  GROUP   OF   OBSERVATIONS. 


Date. 

Material  used. 

Animals  inoculated. 

Seat  of  inoculation. 

Nov.  16,  1851. 

Pulmonary  exudation  from  a  bul- 
lock in  thi'  first  stage,  aud  kept 
ten  days  to  note  if   it  lost  its 
properties. 

Four  small  indigenous  cows 

Tip  of  tail. 

Ten  days  after  the  inoculation  the  first  symptoms  of  specific  inflam- 
mation appeared,  and  all  recovered. 


NINTH  GROUP   OF   OBSERVATIONS. 


Date. 

Material  used. 

Animals  inoculated. 

Seat   of  inoculation. 

Jan.  19,  18.52. 

Pulmonary  exudation  from  cow 
in  third  stage  of  the  disease. 

Tip  of  tail. 
Tip  of  tail. 

On  the  2d  of  February  the  greater  part  of  these  animals  showed 
signs  of  the  inoculation,  and  afterwards  recovered. 

One  animal  on  the  3d  of  February  had  a  swelling  in  the  upper  part,  of 
the  right  hind  limb.  Tlie  tumor  increased  aud  the  animal  suffered  in- 
tensely. Incisions,  emollients  and  purgatives  were  resorted  to  as  usual. 
By  the  Sth  of  February  the  swelling  liad  invaded  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
right  hip,  pushed  the  tail  to  the  lelt,  and  the  anus  was  partly  occluded 
so  as  to  cause  diiUculty  in  defecation.  The  animal  died  on  the  10th. 
Post-mortem  appearances  indicated  little  else  beyond  the  tliickening  of 
the  skin  and  suluuitaneous  tissues  of  the  right  hip.  There  was  some 
discoloration  of  tlie  intestines,  flaccid  appearance  of  muscles,  and  dark 
color  of  lungs,  but  no  si)ecitic  appearances  in  internal  organs. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE. 


57 


TENTH  GROUP   OF   OBSERVATIONS. 


Date. 

Material  inoculated. 

Animals  inoculated. 

Seat  of  inoculation 

Jan.  30,  1853. 

Pulmonarj'  exudation  in  first  stage 
of  disease. 

Four  old  lean  but  strong  Dutch 
bullocks. 

Tip  of  tail. 

Two  presented  swelling  ou  tlie  12th  of  Februaiy,  and  recovered ;  the 
others  showed  no  signs. 


ELEVENTH   GROUP   OF   OBSERVATIONS. 


Date. 

Material  inoculated. 

Animals  inoculated. 

Seat  of  inoculation. 

Feb.  26    1852 

Pulmonary  exudation  from   bul- 
lock in  first  stage. 

Six  lean  Dutch  bullocks 

Tip  of  tail. 

Pulmonary  exudation  from  bul- 
lock in  first  stage. 

Six  fine  Belsrian  steers  . ..... 

Tip  of  tail. 

Pulmonary  exudation   from  bul- 

One Dutch  heifer 

Tip  of  tail. 

lock  in  first  stage. 

Pulmonary  exudation   from  bul- 

One indigenous  cow. 

lock  in  first  stage. 

From  the  13th  to  the  20th  of  March  the  effects  of  the  inoculations  were 
developed.     Only  one  animal  of  the  first  grouj)  lost  a  little  of  its  tail. 

Dr.  Willems  proceeded  further.  On  the  19th  of  June,  1S51,  he  inoc- 
ulated several  cattle  with  the  liquid  expressed  from  healthy  lungs  with- 
out j)roducing  any  effect.  He  then  inoculated  a  bullock  that  had  pre- 
viously had  the  disease,  and  witnessed  no  results  except  a  little  enlarge- 
ment at  the  seat  of  the  puncture  in  one  case.  On  the  28th  of  August, 
1851,  he  reinoculated  a  bullock  that  had  been  operated  on  six  or  seven 
months  previously  and  had  lost  his  tail;  and  did  the  same  with  two  small 
cows. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  1852,  he  reinoculated  three  large  bullocks, 
and  on  the  26th  of  February  three  other  bullocks,  the  whole  of  which 
had.  been  successfully  oi)erated  on  before. 

Fifty  cattle  that  had  not  been  inoculated  were  mixed  in  a  stable  with 
those  referred  to,  and  with  the  following  result : 

In  the  month  of  May,  1851,  three  bullocks  sickened;  on  the  22d  of 
June  a  fourth  case ;  on  the  2Gth  a  fifth ;  on  the  26th  of  July  a  seventh ; 
and  at  different  dates  up  to  the  lOtli  of  March,  1852,  seventeen  of  the 
new  inoculated  animals  had  suffered,  and  were  sold  for  slaughter,  Avhereas 
the  other  thirty-three  doubtless  had  a  latent  I'orni  of  the  malady. 

The  conclusions  drawn  by  Dr.  Willems  were  as  follows: 

1.  Pleuro-pneumonia  is  not  contagious  by  inoculation  of  the  blood  or 
other  matters  taken  from  diseased  animals  and  placed  upon  healthy 
ones. 


58  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

2.  By  the  inothod  that  I  emplbyed,  one  hundred  and  eight  beasts 
were  preserved  from  phMiro-pneumoiiia,  wliile  of  fifty  beasts  placed  in 
the  same  stables  and  not  inoculated,  seventeen  became  diseased,  and 
the  disease  is  now  banished  from  these  stables,  which  had  never  been 
free  from  it  since  1830. 

3.  The  inoculation  of  the  disease  itself,  i^erformed  in  the  manner  that 
I  have  described,  whether  it  may  have  occasioned  apjiarent  morbid 
manifestations  or  not,  was  the  measure  that  preserved  the  animals  from 
plem'O-pneumonia. 

4.  The  blood  and  the  serous  and  frothy  liquid  squeezed  from  the  lungs 
of  a  diseased  animal  in  the  first  stage  of  pleiu'O-pneumonia  is  the  most 
suitable  matter  for  inoculation. 

5.  The  inocidation  of  the  virus  takes  from  ten  days  to  a  month  before 
it  manifests  itself  by  sensible  symptoms. 

6.  The  matter  emj^loyed  for  the  inoculation  has,  in  general,  no  effect 
upon  an  animal  preNaously  inoculated  or  having  had  the  disease. 

7.  The  inoculated  animal  braves  the  epizootic  influences  with  impu- 
nity, and  fattens  better  and  more  rapidly  than  those  in  the  same  atmo- 
sphere with  it  that  have  not  been  inoculated. 

8.  The  inoculation  should  be  performed  with  prudence  and  circum- 
spection upon  lean  animals  in  preference,  and  towards  the  tenth  day 
after  the  operation  a  saline  purge  may  be  given,  and  repeated  if  neces- 
sary. 

9.  By  inoculating  pleuropneumonia  a  new  disease  is  produced;  the 
affection  of  the  lungs,  with  all  its  peculiar  characters,  is  localized  in 
some  sort  on  the  exterior. 

10.  The  virus  obtained  from  oxen  affected  with  pneumonia  is  of  a  na- 
ture entirely  specific ;  it  does  not  always  act  as  a  virus ;  the  bovine  race 
alone  is  affected  hy  its  inoculation,  while  no  other  animals  of  different 
races,  inoculated  in  the  same  manner,  and  with  the  same  liquid,  experi- 
ence any  ill  effects. 

Dr.  Willems  accomplished  much  in  his  earlier  experiments,  as  will  be 
seen  by  comparing  the  knowledge  of  the  present  day  with  the  results  of 
his  original  investigations.  One  cause  contributed  to  strengthen  the 
hands  of  his  adversaries,  and  this  was  attempting  to  prove  that  specific 
and  characteristic  elements  distinguished  the  virus  of  pleuropneumonia. 

Dr.  AVillcms  says : 

I  have  exiiiniiK  (1  various  iiathological  specimens  Avitli  the  object  of  studying  and 
clncidating  thi'  (lucstion  of  inoculation.  My  investigations  have  been  principally 
directed  to  diseased  lungs,  and  to  a  kind  of  tubercle  hitlu-rto  overlooked,  but  whieb  I 
have,  nevertheless,  constantly  met  with  upon  openiug  the  dead  bodies  ol"  animals  that 
died  from  i)lenro-pneumonia.  These  tubercles,  scattered  throughout  the  iutestines,  but 
principally  in  the  lesser  one,  are  of  a  size  varying  from  the  head  of  a  pin  to  that  of  a 
large  pea,  of  a  yellowish  or  greenish  color;  they  are  seated  in  the  submucous  cellular 
tissue,  and  partly  in  tlie  thickness  of  the  nuuMius  nieml»rauo  of  the  intestine.  Tlu'y  do 
not  ;i|iiie:ir  to  linve  any  relation  with  the  glands  of  Peyer  or  of"  Hrunner.  Are  they 
hypertrophied  follicles  ?    Nothing  appears  to  prove  it ;  no  openiug  is  perceived  in  them . 


THE    LUNG   PLAGUE.  59 

Tliey  are  formed  of  a  liomogeneoiis,  whitisli  matter,  more  or  less  hard,  showing  uuder 
the  microscope  granuhius  kernels  and  au  innumerable  quantity  of  small  elementary 
corpuscles,  which  enjoy  a  molecular  motion,  and  which  are  also  met  with  in  diseased 
lungs.  I  have  examined  uuder  the  microscope  parts  of  the  lungs  of  animals  diseased 
with  pneimiouia,  with  a  power  magnifying  foiu-  hundred  and  fifty  diameters,  which  is 
higher  than  that  employed  by  Professor  Gluge  in  his  beautiful  anatomico-pathological 
researches  upon  pleuro-pneumonia.  The  exudated  matter  j)reseuted  no  structure.  I 
met  with  no  other  anatomical  elements  than  granular  cells  and  elementary  corpuscles, 
provided  with  a  iiarticnlar  motion,  the  whole  iiretty  much  resembling  au  inflammatory 
exudation,  remarkable  for  its  great  quantity.  The  lilastic  exudation  is  formed  in  so 
rapid  a  manner,  and  in  such  considerable  quantity,  that  anatomical  elements  of  a 
superior  development  to  that  of  these  cells  could  not  be  produced  in  them ;  conse- 
quently no  cells  or  globules  of  pus  (I  have  never  found  any)  or  filters  are  ever  met  with 
there.  The  energy  of  the  cellular  tissue  appears  to  exhaust  itself  upon  too  large  a 
quantity  of  exudated  matter  for  the  latter  to  be  carried  to  a  higher  degree  of  organiza- 
tion. It  is  the  same  as  is  observed  sometimes  in  the  regeneration  of  tissues ;  in  the 
section  of  nerves,  for  example,  and  in  the  fractiu-e  of  bones,  when  the  exuded  liquid 
is  in  too  large  a  quantity,  or  the  fragments  are  too  much  sejiarated,  a  part  of  the 
liquid  being  beyond  the  circle  of  action  of  the  energy  of  existing  tissues,  always 
remains  at  an  inferior  degree  of  development  to  that  of  the  neighl)oring  tissues.  What 
is  most  important  to  be  shown  here,  and  of  which  no  one  has  hitherto  spoken,  is  the 
existence  in  diseased  lungs  of  small  corpuscles,  endowed  with  a  molecular  motion, 
which  appears  sometimes  to  he  made  in  a  given  direction.  They  are  like  corpuscles  in 
process  of  formation,  the  motion  of  Avhich  resembles  that  of  the  granules  of  pigment, 
as  well  as  those  which  surround  the  corpuscles  of  the  tuberculoiis  matter  in  man.  In 
all  my  microscopical  researches  I  have  constantly  found  the  same. 

Wishing  to  know  whether  these  corpuscles  exist  in  any  other  substances  than  those 
already  examined,  I  submitted  to  the  microscope — 

1.  .The  saliva  of  a  healthy  ox  under  epizootic  influence. 

2.  The  saliva  of  a  diseased  cow  towards  the  third  stage  of  the  disease. 

3.  The  urine  of  the  same  cow. 

4.  The  blood  of  the  same  cow. 

5.  The  blood  of  a  healthy  ox  under  epizootic  influence  for  five  months. 

6.  The  blood  of  a  healthy  ox  not  under  epizootic  influence. 

7.  Parts  of  the  liver  and  of  the  large  right  pectoral  muscle  from  a  diseased  cow. 

In  none  of  these  matters  did  I  find  the  small  corpuscles  with  molecular  motion,  which  I 
have  constantly  met  with  in  the  lungs  and  in  the  intestinal  tubercles  of  animals  aflected 
with  pletu'( )-pueumonia.  That,  then ,  is  the  principal  seat  of  the  disease.  Are  these  cor- 
I)uscles  primitive  or  consequent  on  the  disease  ?  This  question  cannot  be  decided  now ; 
I  only  Avish  herd  to  verify  their  presence  in  pleuro-pneximonia. 

I  examined  with  the  microscope  parts  of  the  skin  of  an  ox  that  died  of  inoculation. 
I  there  found  the  same  microscopical  elements  and  the  same  chemical  characters,  as  in 
the  lungs  diseased  with  pneumonia. 

Professor  Gluge,  one  of  tlie  members  of  the  Belgiau  commission 
appointed  to  inquire  into  the  efficacy  of  inoculation,  reported,  on  the 
10th  of  July,  1852,  as  follows : 

It  results,  from  the  demonstrations  made  by  Dr.  Willems  and  our  own  researches — 

1.  That  e])izo(jtic  ph>uro-pneumonia  has  no  characteristic  anatomical  products  apprc- 
cial)le  by  the  microsc^ope. 

2.  That  the  inflammatory  product  is  not  distinguished  from  any  other  product  of 
inlbunmatioii  l>y  amitomical  character. 

A.  That  M.  Willems's  assertions  are  ru)t  accurate. 

4.  That  this  circumstance,  doubtless  unfortunate,  does  not  in  any  way  prejudice  the 
practical  question,  which  it  appears  to  me  ought  to  be  especially  examined. 


60  DEPAKTMENT    OF    AGRICULTTTRE. 

But  Professor  Verlieyen,  who  was  the  president  of  this  coininission, 
contiimed  until  his  death  to  throw  discredit  on  the  preservative  efficacy 
of  inoculation,  and  though  he  based  most  of  his  conclusions  on  hypo- 
theses, he  was  ready  to  avail  himself  of  everything  that  presented  itself 
to  strengthen  his  position. 

Three  commissions  were  almost  simultaneously  at  work  to  ascertain 
the  merits  of  Dr.  Willems's  discovery. 

The  first  in  Holland,  appointed  on  the  17th  of  April,  1852,  consisted 
of  the  director  and  professors  of  the  veterinary  school  at  Utrecht.* 

From  the  11th  of  June,  1852,  to  the  9th  of  July  following,  the  com- 
mission inoculated  for  fourteen  proprietors  two  hundred  and  forty-seven 
head  of  cattle  of  various  ages  and  condition.  In  this  number  there  were 
one  hundred  and  fifty-four  milch  cows,  six  young  cows  that  had  not  yet 
calved,  thirty-two  heifers,  and  fifty-five  calves.  The  phenomena  of  the 
operation  were  not  manifested  at  once  on  all  the  beasts  that  were  subjected 
to  it.  The  proportions  between  the  inoculation  and  its  consequences  are 
nearly  constant  in  milch  cows  and  heifers;  they  are  found  to  be  about 
as  three  to  two.  In  calves,  on  the  contrary,  the  proportion  is  less;  it  is 
a  s  four  and  a  quarter  to  one.  A  great  difference  was  observed  in  the  effects 
on  cattle  of  different  proprietors.  Thus,  out  of  thirteen  milch  cows 
belonging  to  Degroot,  four  only  experienced  the  consequences,  while 
with  the  cattle  belonging  to  Wynen,  it  was  successful  in  eighteen  out  of 
twenty;  and  yet  the  matter  used  for  the  inoculation  at  these  two  farms 
came  from  the  same  lung.  Other  similar  variations  were  observed, 
and  were  not  attributed  exclusively  by  the  commission  to  a  greater  or 
less  predisposition  to  pleuropneumonia.  The}'  thought  it  more  proba- 
ble explanation  of  the  fact  that  the  disease,  raging  with  greater  vio- 
lence and  upon  a  greater  number  of  beasts  in  one  stable  than  another, 
existed  in  germ  at  the  time  of  inoculation,  although  there  were  no  symp- 
toms to  indicate  it.  Thence  it  was,  then,  that  with  one  exception 
pleuro-pneumonia  caused  the  greatest  losses  to  the  i^roprietors  on  whose 
cattle  the  inoculation  took  least.  The  inoculated  beasts  that  the  com- 
mission had  to  report  on  as  having  been  attacked  by  pleuro-pnounuinia, 
were  sixteen  in  imniber.  Although  this  figure,  they  say,  is  pretty  con- 
siderable, it  proves  in  no  wise  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  preservative 
power  of  the  inoculation ;  for  it  was  to  be  expected  that  cases  of  i)leuro- 
pneumonia,  more  or  less  numerous,  would  in-esent  themselves  among 
the  cattle  subjected  to  the  operation,  since  they  had  been  stabled  with 
infected  animals,  and  at  the  time  of  performing  it  there  were  still  several 
affected  with  the  disease.  "  We  cannot  omit  to  state,"  adds  the  re])orter, 
"that  u])()n  none  of  these  animals  Avas  the  inoculation  succeeded  by  local 
l)hen()mena;"  The  opinion  of  those  who  thought  that  pleuro-pneumonia 
acquires  by  inoculation  a  milder  character,  and  terminates  more  favor- 
ably, was  not  confirmed;  the  greater  number  of  the  animals  attacked 

**  Further  paporsrc8ppctin<!;  pleino-piicuiiioiiia  in  cattle,  presented  to  the  Britisli  House 
of  Comiuous  by  commauil  of  her  Majesty,  December  G,  1652. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  61 

perished.  The  operation  had  not  the  least  intiiieuce  upon  the  beasts 
which,  at  the  time  it  was  performed,  were  evidently  affected  with  pleuro- 
pneumonia. Several  beasts  that  were  known  for  some  time  to  have  been 
affected  with  pleuro-pueumonia  experienced  not  the  least  effect  from 
the  inoculation. 

The  report  from  which  the  above  has  been  extracted  bears  the  date 
of  the  21st  of  September,  1852,  and  the  results  are  indicated  by  the 
annexed  table. 

The  second  report,  bearing  date  of  the  28th  of  December,  1852,  and 
prepared  by  the  same  commission,  furnishes  facts  recorded  in  the  sub- 
joined table. 

The  conclusions  drawn  from  the  experiments  were  summarized  as  fol- 
lows: 

1.  Although  the  inoculation  of  pleuropneumonia  is  not,  in  all  respects, 
an  inoffensive  operation — as  extensive  derangements  and  even  death 
may  result  from  it — its  effects  are  generally  confined  to  the  part  where 
it  has  been  applied. 

2.  In  order  to  prevent,  as  much  as  possible,  its  unfavorable  conse- 
quences, it  is  necessary  to  use  some  precaution,  both  in  the  selection  of 
the  matter  for  inoculation  and  the  period  of  its  application.  The  sea- 
son, the  atmospheric  circumstances,  the  state  of  nutrition,  exert  consid- 
siderable  influence  upon  the  success.  The  autumn  appears,  for  more 
than  one  reason,  to  be  the  most  suitable  period. 

3.  When  an  intense  action  and  serious  casualties  appear  locally  and 
in  the  more  distant  organs,  they  may  be  attributed  to  exterior  circum- 
stances and  to  the  individual  constitution.  This  being  the  case,  casu- 
alties cannot  always  be  avoided. 

4.  If  serious  complications  appear  and  affect  the  essential  organs  so  as 
to  cause  the  reaction  of  the  whole  organism,  it  is  as  difficult  to  prevent 
them  and  arrest  their  progress  as  it  is  to  cure  pleuro- pneumonia. 

5.  In  the  violent  cases,  terminating  in  death,  lesions  in  the  thorax  or 
the  lungs  have  never  been  met ;  hitherto  they  have  always  been  concen- 
trated in  the  abdominal  cavity. 

6.  The  inoculation  produces  no  unfavorable  effects  either  upon  the 
constitution  or  the  yield  of  milk,  while  its  action  is  limited  to  a  local 
affection.  Only  in  the  cases  where  abundant  deposits  succeed  a  too 
intense  local  action  do  the  animals  continue  sickly  during  some  time. 

7.  The  operation  has  not  had  a  determined  influence  on  the  excitement 
of  cestrnm.  In  proportion  this  has  been  more  frequent  on  the  inocu- 
lated than  on  the  uninoculated  cows.  It  is,  however,  to  be  remarked 
that  No.  25  has  not  yet  been  in  heat,  although  the  period  for  it  has  long 
since  passed. 

8.  Tlie  return  of  the  uterine  heats  with  the  two  cows  Kos.  5  and  12, 
prol)ably  in  consequence  of  abortion,  can  the  less  be  referred  to  the  inoc- 
ulation, as  these  two  cases  are  isolated,  and  the  effects  were  not  observed^ 


62  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

ill  Nos.  10,  21,  and  23,  which  were  very  markedly  subject  to  sexual  excite- 
ment. 

0.  It  cannot  be  determined  with  complete  certainty  whether  the  pre- 
mature ])artuiition  of  a  cow  near  her  time,  (No.  10,)  as  well  as  the  con- 
secutive phenomena  observed  in  the  mother  and  the  calf,  are  to  be  attrib- 
uted to  the  inoculation ;  it  is  the  same  with  the  cow  No.  14,  which  calved 
before  her  time.  These  circumstances  are,  however,  of  a  nature  to  dis- 
courage the  inoculation  of  females  in  an  advanced  stage  of  gestation. 

10.  As  abortion  is  frequent  in  the  course  of  pleuropneumonia,  it  can- 
not be  passed  over  in  silence  that  this  complication  has  never  appeared 
with  the  beasts  that  have  suffered  so  seriously  from  the  inoculation  as 
to  sink  under  it.  If,  therefore,  the  operation  has  any  influence  upon  ges- 
tation, it  can  only  be  in  the  last  stage. 

11.  The  hypothesis,  already  proposed  in  our  first  report,  that  the  evo- 
lution of  pleuropneumonia  after  the  inoculation  ought  to  be  attributed 
to  the  existence  of  the  germ  of  the  disease  before  the  operation,  notwith- 
standing the  absence  of  every  morbid  phenomenon,  acquires  a  higher 
degree  of  probability  from  our  experiments. 

12.  The  opinion  of  those  who  hold  that  cattle  that  have  had  pleuro- 
pneumonia, and  have  recovered,  do  not  contract  it  a  second  time,  or  at 
least  rarely,  and  that  the  inoculation  is  performed  without  success  upon 
these  individuals,  is  again  coniii-med  by  No.  16,  which  was  inoculated 
twice,  but  in  vain. 

13.  Our  experiments  furnish  the  remarkable  proof  that  a  power,  at 
least  temporary,  of  securing  against  the  contagion  of  pleiu-o-pneumouia 
cannot  be  denied  to  the  inoculation;  it  remains  imcertain,  however,  to 
what  extent  the  predisposition  to  contract  this  disease  is  destroyed,  either 
entirely  or  for  a  limited  time.  Much  time  will  be  necessary,  from  the 
very  nature  of  the  question,  before  a  positive  solution  of  it  can  be  arrived 
at. 

Yerheyen,  as  president  reporter  of  the  Belgian  commission,  issued  a 
report  dated  Brussels,  February  G,  1853.  It  opened  in  the  following 
terms : 

In  a  first  report,  enibraciiig-  the  period  from  the  24th  of  May  to  the  15th  of  July,  1852, 
it  is  stated  that  the  comuiissiou  had  iuocuhited,  either  by  the  operations  of  its  members 
or  under  its  supervision,  189  l)easts  of  the  bovine  race  of  all  ages  and  both  s(>xes.  Eight 
herds,  numbering  129  head,  inhal)ited  stables  in  which  i)neumouia  had  lately  ragi'd,  or 
■was  still  raging  at  the  time  of  the  inoculation;  eight  other  herds,  composed  of  sixty 
beasts,  abode  in  healthy  localities,  or  such  as  were  considered  healthy,  forasmuch  as 
they  had  never  been  visited  by  the  disease,  or  that  the  scourge  had  spared  them  at 
least  for  the  last  eighteen  months. 

We  made  it  appear — 

1.  Tliat  the  operation  had  been  followed  by  effects  upon  all  the  cattle  inoculated. 

2.  That  the  matter  had  remained  inert  upon  two  cows  that  we  knew  to  have  escaped 
from  exudative  plcnro-pneumonia. 

;3.  Tliat  five  cows  had  perislied  from  the  consequences  of  inoculation. 
4.  That  two  had  lost  the  whole  of  their  tails. 
^    .').  That  six  had  partially  lost  them. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  63 

6.  That  four  calves  liad  been  seized  with  an  articular  affection. 

7.  That  contrary  to  Mr.  Willems's  observations,  the  insertion  of  the  matter  in  the 
tails  of  calves  produced  a  local  affection  there. 

8.  That  finally,  at  the  moment  of  dispatching  that  first  report,  M.  Dele  informed  the 
commission  that  a  case  of  pleuro-pneumonia  had  just  appeared  at  the  Abbey  of  La 
Trappe  upon  an  inoculated  cow. 

The  favorable  situation  certified  on  the  15th  of  July  has  been  maintained,  with  but 
one  exception,  for  the  individuals  of  those  herds  which  the  proprietors  stiU  possess. 
The  articular  affection  observed  in  four  cows  has  not  occurred  again ;  therefore  a  sim- 
ple coincidence  must  be  admitted,  and  this  casualty  explained  independent  of  inocu- 
lation. 

The  commission  resolved  on  extending  its  operations,  and  this  they 
did  by  associating  with  themselves  all  the  country  veterinary  practi- 
tioners, in  accordance  with  the  organization  of  the  civil  veterinary  ser- 
vice in  Belgium;  and  secondly,  by  undertaking  a  series  of  direct  experi- 
ments. 

The  government  on  its  part  did  not  remain  inactive.  It  organized  local  commissions 
charo-ed  with  the  supervision  of  the  operations ;  the  losses  occasioned  by  the  inocula- 
tion were  assimilated  to  those  of  animals  slaughtered  on  account  of  public  benefit ;  it 
undertook  to  pay  the  difference  between  the  estimated  price  and  the  selUng  price  of 
the  inoculated  beasts,  which,  contracting  exudative  pleuro-pneumonia,  should  be  sent  by 
their  proprietors  to  the  shambles,  and  of  which  the  ofiflcers  at  the  latter  would  make 
declarations  to  the  authorities. 

Further  on  M.  Verheyen  says : 

Wishing  to  free  the  inoculation  from  the  numerous  accessory  questions  which  that 
practice  occasions,  the  commission  adopted  for  its  experiments,  and  submitted  to  the 
minister  of  the  interior  for  his  sanction,  this  sim^ile  programme : 

1.  To  purchase  sound  beasts ;  to  watch  them  dirrrng  a  certain  time,  in  order  to  be 
assured  of  the  integrity  of  their  pulmonary  organs. 

2.  To  request  M.  Willems  to  inoculate  them. 

3.  Only  to  admit  as  preserved  those  in  which  that  physician  should  have  recognized 
the  specific  inflammation  caused  by  a  productive  inoculation,  and  which  he  should  have 
pronounced  to  be  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  immunity. 

4.  To  have  the  beasts  cohabit  with  animals  afilicted  with  exudative  j)leuro-pneumo- 
nia,  at  the  same  time  placing  some  inoculated  animals  in  identical  conditions. 

A  first  batch  of  eight  cows  and  heifers  of  Ardennes  breed,  selected  in  localities  free 
from  exudative  pleuro-iinenmouia,  arrived  at  the  veterinary  school.  M.  Willems  inoc- 
ulated them  on  the  16th  of  August ;  on  the  11th  of  September,  those  numbered  1,  2,  3, 
5,  6,  and  8  were  examined  by  M.  Willems,  who  declared  that  the  inoculation  liad  suc- 
ceeded in  those  beasts. 

On  the  same  day  he  inoculated  eight  other  beasts  purchased  by  M.  Windelincx,  on 
account  of  the  commission,  at  the  fafr  of  Tirlemont.  We  cannot  affirm  that  they  were, 
like  the  pr(!ceding,  from  a  locality  free  from  pleiu-o-pueumonia ;  we  gained,  however, 
by  a  rigorous  and  repeated  examination,  the  certainty  that  the  thoracic  organs  were 
intact.  At  the  same  sitting,  M.  Willems  reinoculated  the  two  Ardennes  cows  num- 
bered 4  and  7. 

All  showing  themselves  still  refractory  on  the  29th  of  September,  M.  Willems  was 
apprised  of  it;  the  letter  was  unanswered. 

On  the  10th  of  October  an  ox — that  marked  No.  2 — of  the  herd  that  came  fi-om  Tirle- 
mont, exhibited  a  swelling  at  the  end  of  the  tail.  That  portion  of  the  caudal  append- 
age being  seized  with  dry  mortification,  was  eliminated. 

On  the  18th  October  three  members  of  the  commission  proceeded  to  a  fresh  inocu- 
lation. They  operated  upon  the  Nos.  1,  3,  4,  5,  7,  and  8,  from  Tiiiemont,  and  upon  the 
Aidennes  cow  No.  4. 


64  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

The  No.  7  of  tlic  latter  breed,  and  the  No.  6  of  the  former,  were  reserved. 

Two  of  tli<'  Ardennes  cows  were  siieeessfnlly  iiioenlated,  Nos.  5  and  6,  havinj;  been  iso- 
lated iu  a  stable,  cohabited  from  the  •24tli  of  September  with  pneumonic  beasts.  When  it 
was  certain  that  the  operation  had  had  a  negative  result  ufton  the  Ardennes  cow  No. 
7,  and  after  the  cicatrization  of  the  puncture,  the  same  locality  was  assigned  to  it,  on 
the  1st  of  October,  for  abode. 

The  ox  No.  2,  from  Tirlemont,  entered  there  on  the  23d  of  October,  and  the  heifer  No. 
6  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month. 

A  third  inoculation  performed  on  the  18th  of  November,  upon  the  beasts  from  Tirle- 
mont, Nos.  1,  3,  4,  5,  7,  and  8,  was  not  more  efficacious  that  the  preceding. 

From  the  24th  of  September,  the  date  of  the  experiment,  there  has  only  occurred  a 
first  space  of  one  day,  and  a  second  of  eight,  during  which  the  stable  has  not  contained 
pneumonic  beasts;  the  number  of  the  cattle  has  varied  from  one  to  three.  Up  to  this 
day  the  three  inoculated  beasts,  and  the  two  upou  which  the  inoculation  was  unsuc- 
cessful, have  experienced  no  attack  from  the  cohabitation  with  iirfected  animals. 

Two  aged  cows,  inoculated  by  M.  Willems,  at  Hasselt,  entered  the  same  locality  on 
the  15th  of  November. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  two  of  the  Ardennes  beasts,  Nos.  3  and  8,  were  dispatched 
to  Tirlemont  to  be  placed  in  infected  stableS  there,  by  the  care  and  under  the  superin- 
tendence of  M.  Windeliucx. 

A  third  experiment,  intrusted  to  M.  Dele,  has  been  organized  at  Deurne,  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Antwerp.  The  superior  of  the  abbey  of  La  Trappe  has  been  jileased  to  place 
at  the  disposal  of  the  commission,  for  this  purpose,  two  heifers  belonging  to  the  com- 
munity, and  which  were  inoculated  with  the  least  equivocal  success,  on  the  27th  of 
May,  1852. 

On  the  30th  of  October  the  Ardennes  beasts  Nos.  1,  2,  and  4  were  conducted  to  Huy, 
where  a  fourth  experiment  is  being  carried  out  imder  the  superintendence  of  MM.  Mar- 
cojjs  and  Gn^rin. 

Not  oue  of  the  animals  inoculated,  successfully  or  unsuccessfully,  has  contracted  exu- 
dative pleuro-pneumonia. 

While  these  experiments  were  going  on,  fifty-four  veterinary  surgeons, 
inchuling  Dr.  Willems,  inoculated  5,301  head  of  cattle.  They  consisted 
in — 

Beasts  fattening 2,  732 

Lean  oxen  or  milch  cows 2, 189 

Calves  and  young  cattle «^80 

Total 5, 301 

Beasts  living  in  healthy  stables 2, 330 

Beasts  living  in  infected  stables 2, 971 

Total 5, 301 

Beasts  successfully  inoculated 4, 324 

In  healthy  stables 2,  030 

In  infected  stables 2,  294 


Total 4?  ^24 


r\ 


Eighty-six,  including  eleven  beasts  inoculated  in  the  dewlap,  died 
from  the  consecpiences  of  the  inoculation. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  65 

Seventy-four  lost  the  tail  up  to  the  root. 

Three  hundred  and  four  lost  it  in  part. 

Seventy-three  contracted  exudative  pleuro -pneumonia  after  having 
been  successfully  inoculated. 

After  careful  examination  it  resulted  at  fifty-five  cases  of  exudative 
pleuro-pneumonia,  well  attested,  occurred  upon  beasts  inoculated  with 
unequivocal  success.  The  space  of  time  which  elai)sed  with  these  ani- 
mals between  the  inoculation  and  the  first  appearance  of  the  pneumonia 
symptoms,  varies  17  to  136  days. 

After  an  elaborate  analysis  of  cases  in  which  the  inoculation  seems  to 
have  been  effectual,  of  others  in  which  the  operation  and  immunity 
seemed  to  be  coincidences,  and  lastly  of  those  in  which  it  was  not  pre- 
servative, the  commission  concludes : 

1.  That  tlie  iuoculatioii  witli  tlie  liquid  extracted  from  a  lung  liepatized  in  consequence 
of  exudative  pleuro-pneumouia,  is  not  an  absolute  preservative  against  that  disease. 

2.  That  the  phenomena  succeeding  the  inoculation  may  occur  several  times  niion  the 
same  animal,  whether  it  has  or  has  not  been  affected  with  exudative  pleuro-pneumouia, 
and  that  the  two  affections -may  go  on  simultaneously  in  one  and  the  same  indivi<lual; 
considerable  derangements  ajjpear  at  the  inoculated  jjart,  while  the  morbid  action  of 
the  lungs  progresses  towards  a  fatal  termination. 

As  to  the  point  whether  inoculation  really  possesses  a  jtreservative  virtue,  and  in 
that  case,  in  what  proijortion  and  for  what  duration  it  maintains  the  immunity  in  the 
animals  that  have  undergone  it,  this  question  can  only  be  resolved  by  ulterior  researches. 

A  summary  of  inoculations  performed  and  results  obtained  is  appended 
in  a  tabular  form  at  the  close  of  the  report. 

We  now  come  to  the  experiments  of  the  French  commission,  and  it 
must  not  be  forgotten  that,  in  connection  with  the  subject  of  the  trans- 
mission of  the  lung  plague  by  contact,  this  commission  had  resorted  to 
inoculation  independently  of  any  suggestions  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Willems. 

The  general  resume,  ably  set  forth  by  Professor  Bouley,  is  regarded 
uj)  to  the  present  day  as  having  done  much  to  diffuse  a  rational  belief  in 
the  efficacy  of  inoculation,  and  the  experiments  were  conducted  with 
great  care  and  skill. 

Experiments  were  instituted  by  the  commission — 

First.  To  ascertain  whether  i)leuro-pneumonia  is  susceptible  of  being- 
transmitted  to  healthv  animals  bv  the  inoculation  of  blood,  saliva,  nasal 
discharge,  and  excrementitial  matters  from  animals  affected  with  the 
disea.se. 

Second.  Have  animals  thus  inoculated  enjoyed  any  immunity  against 
the  contagious  inlim^ice  of  the  lung  plague? 

Third.  Is  pleuroi)neumonia  capable  of  being  transmitted,  in  all  its 
forms  and  characteristic  symptoms,  to  healthy  cattle  by  the  inoculation 
of  the  liquid  extracted  from  the  lungs  of  a  sick  animal? 

Fourth.  In  the  case  where  inoculation  of  this  liquid  does  not  determine 
on  healthy  animals  an  exact  repetition  of  the  form  and  symi)toms  of  the 
original  disease,  what  are  the  local  or  general  ])henomena  which  result*? 
In  what  proportion  and  to  what  extent  do  these  characters,  more  or  h'ss 
severe,  transmit  themselves  ?  How  many  aninuils  die  after  inoculation? 
5 


SG  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

llow  many  recovor  their  health  after  having  been  snbjected  to  this  test, 
and  nnder  what  conditions? 

Fifth.  ]3o  the  animals  snbjected  to  this  jnoof  of  inocnlation  with  jml- 
monary  li(|uid  acciniic  the  i)0\ver  of  resisting  the  contagion  of  i>leiiro- 
pnenmonia? 

The  experiments  made  to  solve  the  qnesticni  whether  plenro-pnenmonia 
was  contagious  by  the  inocnlation  of  the  blood,  saliva,  nasal  mucus,  &c., 
having  been  performed  only  on  six  animals,  the  commission  has  not 
deemed  them  suflticient  in  number  to  form  the  basis  of  any  conclusion. 
Nevertheless,  it  was  thought  right  to  mention  that  the  two  cows  inocu- 
lated with  the  misal  discharge,  and  subjected  to  the  proof  of  contagion 
by  cohabitation,  have  not  been  affected  with  pleuro-pneumonia. 

Experiments  by  inoculating  the  liquid  from  the  lungs  of  sick  cattle 
have  been  performed  on  fifty-four  healthy  animals,  and  under  conditions 
which  indicated  that  these  animals  had  never  previously  contracted  the 
disease.  Of  these  fifty-four  subjects  inoculated  none  have  shown  symp- 
toms of  i)leuro-pneumouia  as  the  result  of  inoculation.  On  twenty-three 
the  effects  of  inoculation  have  only  been  indicated  by  a  slight  local  and 
well-circumscribed  inflammation.  On  twenty-one  the  inflammation  has 
been  very  severe,  very  extensive,  and  complicated  by  gangrenous  phe- 
nomena which  have  led  to  the  death  of  six  subjects.  Therefore  the  num- 
ber of  animals  in  which  inoculation  has  been  benignant  has  amounte<l  to 
Gl.ll  per  cent.;  the  proportion  of  those  having  gangrene  after  the  oper- 
ation, Avhich  resulted  in  the  loss  of  a  portion  of  the  tail,  was  27.77  per 
cent.;  lastly,  the  deaths  attained  11.11  per  cent.  Thus  88.88  per  cent, 
of  the  inoculated  animals  recovered,  and  11.11  per  cent.  died. 

Of  the  forty-eight  subjects  which  came  out  of  the  inoculatioTi  safe  and 
healthy  two  died  of  accidents  not  induced  by  the  operation,  and  thirty- 
four  were  exi)osed  for  a  period  of  five  or  six  months  to  the  direct  influ- 
ence of  contagion  by  cohabitation  with  twenty-four  subjects  that  had  not 
been  inoculated,  and  which  had  to  serve  as  a  means  of  comparison. 

Twelve  iiu)culated  animals  which  had  been  placed  in  separate  stables 
to  serve  for  ultefior  exi)eriments  were  not  exposed  to  the  direct  contact 
of  such  cattle,  but  were  looked  alter  by  the  same  person  who  had  charge 
of  the  sick  animals. 

Only  one  of  the  forty-six  animals  inoculated,  viz.,  about  two  per  cent., 
became  atfected  with  pleuro-pneumonia,  whereas  of  the  twenty-four  non- 
inoculated  animals  fourteen,  or  fifty-eight  per  cent.,  suffered. 

From  these  experiments  the  commission  concludes: 

1.  The  inoculation  of  the  liquid  extracted  from  the  lungs  of  an  animal 
affected  witli  i)leui<)-])ueumonia  does  not  transmit  to  healthy  animals  of 
the  same  s[>ecies  the  same  disease — at  all  events,  so  far  as  its  seat  is  con- 
cerned. 

2.  The  a])preciable  plienomena  which  follow  the  inoculation  are  those 
of  a  local  inllammatiou,  which  is  circumscribed  and  slight,  on  a  certain 
number  of  t lie  auimals  inoculated;  extensive  and  diffuse,  with  general 
reaction  proi>ortioned  to  the  local  disease,  and  complicated  by  gangrenous 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  67 

accidents,  on  another  number  of  the  inoculated  animals,  so  that  even  death 

maj'  result. 

3.  The  inoculation  of  the  liquid  from  the  lungs  of  an  animal  affected 
with  pleuro-pneumonia  exerts  a  preservative  influence,  and  invests  the 
economy  of  the  larger  number  of  animals  subjected  to  its  influence  with 
an  imniunity  which  protects  them  from  the  contagion  of  this  malady 
during  a  period  which  has  yet  to  be  determined,  but  which  the  experi- 
ments quoted  indicated,  at  all  events,  not  to  be  less  than  six  months. 

Although,  from  the  experiments  of  the  commission,  the  losses  per 
cent,  among  the  animals  inoculated  were  greater  than* the  losses  by  the 
disease  communicated  by  cohabitation,  they  ascribed  this  partly  to  the 
imperfect  means  adopted  in  inoculating,  and  they  do  not  overlook  the 
great  deterioration  of  the  animals  which  did  not  die  after  suffering  from 
the  natural  disorder.  They  recommended  further  trials,  and  that  the 
practice  should  be  encouraged. 

A  mixed  commission  of  the  central  society  of  medicine  and  the  agri- 
cultural committee  of  Lille  instituted  experiments  on  one  thousand  two 
hundred  and  forty-five  animals  to  determine  the  comparative  effects  of 
inoculation  of  the  pulmonary  liquid  of  pleuro-pneumonia  and  of  septic 
matters.  The  inoculations  with  virus  amounted  to  one  thousand  two 
hundred  and  sixteen;  of  these  nine  hundred  and  seventy-eight  succeeded 
and  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  showed  no  visible  effects.  One  hun- 
dred and  seventy-niue  animals,  or  14.72  per  cent.,  lost  a  part  of  the  tail; 
seventeen,  or  1.39  per  cent.,  died;  lastly,  twenty-nine  animals,  or  2.38  per 
cent.,  were  seized  with  pleuro-pneumonia,  and  of  these  eight  succumbed- 
Twenty-nine  head  of  cattle  were  inoculated  with  decomposing  matter, 
and  only  two  without  local  effect  resulting.  Ten  lost  a  portion  of  the 
tail,  viz.,  thirty-four  p^r  cent.  Of  these  animals  three  caught  pleuro- 
pneumonia, and  one  of  these  died.  The  Lille  committee  regarded  the 
process  and  results  of  inoculation  as  involved  in  doul)ts  and  uncertainties. 
In  England  attention  was  directed  to  inoculation  by  consuls  from 
abroad,  and  Professors  Simonds  and  Morton  were  commissioned  to  pro- 
ceed to  Belgium,  investigate  the  matter,  and  then  to  institute  experi- 
ments at  home.  The  result  obtained,  after  much  too  limited  observation, 
was  pronounced  against  the  practice.  This  sufficed  to  prevent  the  prac- 
tice of  the  operation  among  veterinarians,  and  the  London  cow-feeders 
alone  resorted  to  the  idan,  in  a  very  partial  and  imperfect  manner. 

I  witnessed  many  bad  results  in  1851  and  1855,  and  a  case  which  came 
under  my  observation  on  the  4th  of  May,  1850,  in  which  putrid  matter 
that  had  been  kept  in  an  ink-bottle  for  a  long  time  was  used,  led  mo  to 
pronounce  a  somewhat  cautious  but  adverse  opinion  on  the  Highland 
Society's  transactions  for  that  year. 

My  efforts  were  afterwards  directed  to  an  exposure  of  the  evils  of 
indiscriminate  snle  of  healthy  and  sick  cattle  in  i)ublic  markets,  and 
I  insisted  on  the  slaughter  and  isolation  of  sick  and  infected  cattle.  The 
little  support  I  received  at  home  led  me,  in  1803,  to  call  together  the  first 
international  veterinary  congress,  which  was  held  in   Hamburg,  and 


68  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

there  I  met  veterinarians  from  all  parts  of  I'^urope  wlio  had  steadily-  per- 
severed  in  the  practice  of  inoculation  and  could  furnish  me  with  relial)le 
data.  It  is  impossible,  and  indeed  it  would  be  superfluous,  to  give  a  very 
dctailed  account  of  the  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  cases  which 
have  led  to  the  almost  universal  opinion  that  inoculation  is  the  best 
means  in  the  majority  of  instances  to  check  the  ravages  of  pleuro-pneu- 
monia.  The  observations  have  been  made  in  all  parts  where  pleuro- 
pneumonia has  appeared,  though  opposition  to  the  practice  is  scarcely 
overcome  to  the  extent  that  is  desirable. 

The  efforts  of  Professor  Verheyen  in  Belgium  and  his  many  attacks 
ou  Dr.  Willems's  nu^thod,  approx  cd  as  they  have  been  by  S(mie  in  that 
country,  only  illustrate  once  more  the  adage  that  a  man  is  not  a  prophet 
in  his  own  country.  But  Professor  Thiervene,  who  was  one  of  the  original 
Belgian  commissioners,  and  at  first  among  the  decided  skeptics,  delivered 
an  address  before  the  Eoyal  Academy  of  Medicine  in  Brussels  in  18GG,  in 
reply  to  one  by  M.  Boens,  who  had  attacked  the  practice  of  inoculation, 
in  which  he  vindicates  Dr.  Willems's  position.  He  indorses  Professor 
Saint  Cyr's  remarks  on  the  demonstration  of  a  preservative  influence  by 
the  most  accurate  and  extensive  experiments,  and  shows  that  of  the  well- 
informed  in  Belgium,  who  are  acquainted  with  the  characters  of  the  con- 
tagious pleuro-pueumonia,  none  now  doubt  that  inoculation  is  a  safe  and 
certain  preserva tive. 

Medical  men,  no  less  than  veterinarians,  have  a  duty  to  perform  in 
relation  to  this  subject.  Boards  of  health  in  cities  and  country  districts 
should  take  up  the  subject  in  connection  with  the  sale  of  the  meat  and  milk 
of  animals  affected  with  pleuro-pneumonia.  History  shows  that  in  those 
countries,  such  as  England,  where  the  sale  of  the  produce  of  these  animals 
has  been  most  unrestricted,  the  traffic  in  such  cattle  has  been  so  great  as 
to  cause  the  nu)st  severe  losses  by  the  disease,  and  without  intermission. 

An  objection  to  inoculation,  which  weighs  in  the  case  of  human  and 
ovine  small-pox,  as  well  as  rinderpest,  is  that  the  inoculated  disease  is 
contagious,  that  the  cohabitation  of  healthy  with  inoculated  animals  may 
lead  to  extensions  of  the  disorderly  infection,  and  that  the  foci  whence 
the  disease  spreads  are  always  on  the  increase.  Such  objections  cannot 
weigh  against  the  inoculation  for  the  lung  plague,  as  the  inoculated  nud- 
ady  is  not  communicated  except  by  reinoculation.  My  observations  on 
this  point  are  very  numerous,  and  I  do  not  know  of  a  single  instance 
recorded,  during  the  seventeen  years  that  inoculation  has  been  exten- 
sively practiced,  in  which  contagion  from  inoculated  animals  has  been 

witnessed. 

Another  objection  which  has  led,  of  late  years,  to  the  practice  being 
checked  among  the  cow-feeders  of  Brooklyn,  is  the  sloughing  of'the  tad 
and  the  animals  splashing  blood  and  matter  from  their  sore  tails  into  the 
ndlk-cans.  All  this  aiises  from  the  oi)eration  being  performed  by  per- 
sons who  know  nothing  of  the  precautions  to  be  used,  and  especially  of 
the  proper  selection  and  preservation  of  the  virus.  Accidents  will  hap- 
pen; but  out  of  nearly  two  thousand  inoculations  1  have  had  a  loss  of  less 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  '  69 

than  one  per  cent,  by  death,  and  nnder  five  per  cent,  of  the  tails  have 
lost  their  tips.  This  incUides  m^^  earlier  trials,  and  the  results  wonld  be 
more  favorable  if  I  exclnded  them  from  my  calcnlations. 

PRECAUTIONS. 

The  prevention  of  pleuropneumonia  by  inoculation  demands,  therefore, 
sjiecial  attention,  first,  to  the  condition  of  herds  operated  on ;  second,  selec- 
tion of  proper  virus;  third,  the  preservation  of  that  virus  from  de(;om- 
positionj  fourth,  the  proper  performance  of  the  operation. 

First.  As  to  the  condition  of  stock,  it  may  be  said  that  at  any  season 
and  under  any  system  of  management,  whether  cattle  are  being  grazed, 
stall-fed,  used  for  breeding  purposes,  or  fattening  for  the  butcher's  stall, 
inoculation  may  be  resorted  to.  It  should  be  practiced  so  soon  as  there 
is  reason  to  believe  a  herd  has  been  in  danger  of  infection  or  actually 
infected.  Tlie  first  case  of  well-marked  lung  plague  on  a  farm  or  in  a 
dairy  shed  should  be  the  starting  point  for  careful  isolation,  and  the 
inoculation  of  all  apparently  healthy  animals.  The  disease  rarely  mani- 
fests all  its  virulence  until  the  third  month  after  the  introduction  of  a  sick 
animal  among  a  lot  of  cattle,  but  the  longer  the  inoculation  is  delayed 
the  more  likely  is  it  that  the  operation  will  be  performed  on  animals 
during  the  stage  of  invasion  of  the  natural  disease,  and  the  result  is  a 
loss  which  is  sometimes  ascribed  to  the  ineflficacy  of  the  preventive. 
In  cities  where  the  lung  j>lague  has  been  rife  for  any  length  of  time,  and 
it  is  "necessary  to  make  frequent  purchases,  although  a  great  deal  in  the 
way  of  prevention  may  be  eflected  bj^  judicious  purchases  of  animals  in 
healthy  districts,  it  is  best  to  resort  regularly  to  inoculation.  Dairymen 
should  strive  to  buy  more  cows  at  a  time,  and  at  regular  intervals,  instead 
of  i^icking  up  a  chance  bargain  or  making  it  a  rule  to  go  to  the  market 
weekly,  as  has  been  often  the  custom  in  both  England  and  America.  It 
matters  not  if  the  cow  is  about  to  calve  or  has  just  calved ;  nothing  should 
induce  the  dairyman  or  the  farmer  in  an  infected  district  to  run  a  risk. 
It  is  desirable  to  keep  animals  clean  and  well  littered  on  straw  or  saw- 
dust, as  at  times  the  tails  that  have  been  operated  on  are  permanently 
in  excrement  and  urine,  which  may  poison  the  wound  with  decomposing 
matter. 

Second.  The  selection  of  proper  virus  is  a  matter  that  should  be 
intrusted  to  veterinarians,  who  can  detect  the  various  stages  of  the  dis- 
ease. It  is  during  the  first  stage  of  a  mild  case  that  the  interlobular 
tissue  of  the  lung  is  found  disteuded  with  a  yellow  gelatinous  serum, 
w^hich  is  fluid  so  long  as  the  lungs  are  hot,  and  is  not  readily  contami- 
nated by  other  inflammatory  products  and  blood.  When  a  large  portion 
of  luug  has  been  so  far  cf)usoli(liit('(l  as  to  present  an  abaost  uuiforin  dark 
red  or  purplish  color,  it  should  be  discarded,  and  especially  in  cases  wheiv 
a  piece  of  the  organ  has  become  gangrcMious  and  detached,  or  where  licpiid 
in  the  cavity  of  the  chest  and  around  the  lungs  is  decidedly  fetid.  IMicro- 
scopic  examination  will  iudicate,  by  the  presence  of  movable  rods  and 
floating  molecules,  the  putrefactive  changes,  and  that  should  cause  us  to 


70  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

discard  any  such  somce  of  virus.  A  clear  pleural  fluid  is  ofteu  very  use- 
ful for  preservation,  but  i)erhai)s  <;Teater  reliance  is  to  be  placed  on  the 
exudation  of  a  i)ie('e  of  lung  in  tlu'  first  stage  of  the  malady.  The  lung 
is  [)hu'ed  on  a  tolerably  ^vide  strainer,  or  bits  of  wood,  over  a  clean  stone- 
ware, glass,  or  porcelain  dish  or  bowl;  it  is  cut  in  various  directions,  and 
a  stout  piece  of  cloth  or  flannel  is  placed  over  the  whole  to  confine  the 
heat  and  prevent  dust  falling  on  the  lung  or  liciuid.*  It  is  better  to  place 
the  dish  or  bowl  over  a  warm  water  or  sand  bath  at  100°,  so  as  to  pre- 
vent gelatinization.  In  a  short  time,  according  to  the  condition  and 
quantity  of  lung,  a  sufllcient  quantity  of  clear  yellow-colored  .li<juid  is 
obtained.  Sometimes  blood  accidentally  tinges  the  material,  and  this  is 
not  uecessaril}-  a  disadvantage. 

The  old  plan  of  keeping  pieces  of  lung  to  inoculate  with,  and  bot- 
tling up  anything  and  everything  to  secure  a  fetid  compound,  which 
was  kept  for  months,  must  be  regarded  as  the  most  certain  means  to 
insure  accidents  as  the  results  of  inoculation. 

Third.  The  preservation  of  the  virus  for  periodic  inoculations  has 
certaiulv  been  a  desideratum.  Had  farmers  and  dairvmeu  had  the  facil- 
ities  for  procuring  material  which  could  be  used  with  safety  in  their 
stock,  they  would  long  since  have  tried  a  method  that,  even  when  badly 
carried  out,  is  beneficial  to  them.  Dr.  Sticker,  of  Cologne,  has  preserved 
the  virus  in  hermetically-closed  tubes  containing  from  one  to  two 
drachms.  One  of  these  glasses  is  emptied  into  a  small  glass,  and  from  one 
to  two  parts  of  rain  water  added.  This  is  not  desirable.  A  plan  has 
occurred  to  me  of  utilizing  the  tubes  referred  to  in  Drs.  Billings  and 
Cui'tis's  report,  which  I  am  sure  will  meet  the  requirements  of  the  ca.se. 
Tubes  about  four  inches  in  length,  three-eighths  of  an  inch  in  diameter, 
antl  tapering  at  either  end,  are  sealed  at  one  end  in  a  blow-pipe  flame, 
and  then  heated  throughout  their  length  to  redness.  The  operation  is 
concluded  by  closing  the  other  end  in  the  same  way.  The  air  in  the 
tube  is  rarefied,  all  germs  of  decay  destroyed,  and  there  is  no  difficulty 
in  further  manipulations.  When  a  proper  ([uantity  of  liquid  is  obtained 
one  point  ol  the  tube  is  passed  into  it,  the  tip  broken  off,  ami  the  virus 
is  sucked  in  to  fill  the  vacuum.  A  spirit  lamp  is  held  near  the  licjuid 
and  the  point  of  the  tube  transferred  from  this  to  the  flame.  By  the 
aid  of  a  blow-pipe  the  sealing  is  effected,  and  thus  protected  the  virus 
will  keep  for  months.  The  test  for  discarding  tubes  thus  prepared  is  a 
microsco])ical  one,  and  consists  in  the  detection  of  bacteria  or  evidences 
of  putrefaction  in  the  liquid. 

Fourth.  The  inoculation  of  cattle  is  most  safely  practiced  on  the  tip 
of  the  tail.  All  parts  that  .are  loose,  and  from  which  any  extensive 
exudation  may  s]»read  over  the  connective  tissue  beneath  the  skin, must 
be  avoided.  The  lips,  dewlap,  and  root  of  the  tail  have  proved  dangerous 
localities.  AVhen  the  operation  is  properly  and  delicately  i)erformed, 
the  tii»  of  the  ear  is  said  to  be  safe,  but  on  the  whole  the  end  of  the  tail 
is  after  long  experience  found  to  be  the  best. 

Dairymen  have  frequently  resorted  to  the  plan  of  making  an  incision 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE.  71 

of  an  inch  or  two  in  length,  inserting  in  the  part  a  piece  of  Inng-,  and 
bandaging;  swelling,  inflamniation,  slonghing  of  the  tail,  secondary 
deposits  in  the  lymphatic  glands  and  other  parts  of  the  organs,  have 
freqnently  resulted  from  this  rude  practice. 

Dr.  Willems  first  described  his  mode  of  inoculation  as  follows :  "  I 
take  the  liquid  pressed  from  an  animal  recently  slauglitered,  or  of  one 
that  has  died  of  the  disease;  I  plunge  into  it  a  kind  of  large  lancet; 
then  I  make  two  or  three  punctures  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  tail  of 
the  animal  that  I  wish  to  preserve  from  the  disease ;  a  single  drop  of  the 
liquid  is  sufficient  to  malce  the  inoculation.^^ 

At  one  time  Dr.  Willems  adopted  the  plan  of  making  two  punctures, 
one  on  the  upper  part  and  the  other  on  the  lower  surface  of  the  tip  of  tlie 
tail,  and  both  about  the  same  distance  from  the  extreme  end  of  the 
organ.  He  found  that  this  frequently  led  to  a  fusion  of  the  exudation 
commencing  around  each  puncture,  and  the  result  was  the  sloughing  of 
the  tail.  He  therefore  resorted  to  the  punctures  disposed  vertically  in  a 
line  with  the  tail  and  about  three  inches  from  each  other.  By  this 
means  the  exudations  commencing  at  the  two  spots  had  no  tendency  to 
coalesce  and  lead  to  untoward  results. 

Various  instruments  have  been  suggested  for  the  operation.  Dr. 
Sticker  devised  a  hollow  stilet  with  a  sharp  diamond-shaped  point. 
The  stilet  is  armed  with  a  little  india-rubber  tube,  and  this  passed  into 
a  wooden  handle,  with  a  spring,  whereby  the  flexible  tube  could  be 
squeezed  for  the  expulsion  of  air,  and  by  placing  the  point  of  the  instru- 
ment in  the  prepared  li<piid,  sufticient  is  sucked  in  for  an  inoculation. 
L  have  used  this  instrument  as  follows : 

The  end  of  the  tail  being  firmly  held  in  the  left  hand,  the  point  of  the 
instrument  is  plunged  with  the  right  hand  superficially  into  the  skin  of 
the  tip  of  the  tail,  and  directed  from  before  backwards,  so  that  any 
effort  to  withdraw  the  tail  would  only  hasten  the  operation.     I  can  testify 
from  practice  to  the  simi)licity  and  efficacy  of  Dr.  Sticker's  instrument 
as  used  by  me.     I  have  preferred  the  plan  of  operating  to  Dr.  Sticker's 
method,  which  consists  in  charging  his  instrument,  holding  the  tail 
flrnily,  and  then  pushing  the  stilet  about  one  inch  forward  into  the  tail, 
and  l)y  a  simultaneous  pressure  upon  the  key,  and  a  slight  winding 
motion,  the  virus  is  dei)osited  beneath  the  skin  and  in  the  substance  of 
the  organ.     Dr.  Sticker  proposed  making  a  channel  Avith  the  instru- 
ment— a  channel  downwards  from  which  exudation  might  flow ;  but  this 
is  of  no  avail  if  septic  matter  is  used,  and  untoward  symptoms  result. 
The  result  of  Dr.  Sticker's  operation,  according  to  his  description,  is  a 
local  swelling   occurring   about  the   eightli  or   ninth  day,  and  wliich 
increases  the  tail  from  three  to  four  lines  in  diameter  and  extends  over 
a  length  of  one  and  a  half  to  two  inches;  incisions  have  not  been  neces- 
sary after  the  operation,  and  the  tails  have  not  mortified.     The  inoculated 
cattle  do  not  lose  their  appetites  and  the  flow  of  milk  is  not  diminished. 
Dr.  Sticker  considers  it  important  that  the  virus  should  be  deposited  in  the 
connective  tissue  beneath  the  skin  and  not  deep  in  the  muscles  of  the  tail. 


72  DErARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

liiit  with  (lie  tubes  in()])(>.se(l  to  preserve  the  liquid  a  very  sini])le  j)lan 
consists  in  usiii<)-  a  siiiiili  bistoury  or  huieet,  scariiyinj;  the  ui)per  surface 
of  the  tail  an  inch  or  so  from  the  end,  and  from  this  ])urt  the  hair  may 
be  clipix'dolf  with  a  ])air  of  scissors;  the  scarification  must  be  sui)erfieial 
and  blood  shoukl  not  be  drawn  if  jjossible ;  the  tube  is  taken  and  both 
ends  broken  otf ;  a  little  rubber  ball  or  tube  is  fixed  onto  one  end,  and 
by  pressin,i>-  this  a  fcAV  drops  of  li(piid  are  dropped  in  the  scaritication. 
This  is  the  safest  method,  as  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  virus  being  applied 
to  an  abs(>rbent  surface,  and  the  method  of  collection  affor<ls  a  j,niar- 
antee  of  its  purity;  the  tubes  are  thus  kept  hermetically  sealed  till 
needed,  and  trom  the  way  they  are  used  there  is  no  loss  of  material. 

Tlie  results  of  successful  inoculation  are  somewhat  various;  by  some 
nu'thods  the  swelling-  is  considei'able,  and  many  tails  slough.  It  is  not 
a  little  remarkable  that  cows  do  not  often  fail  to  enjoy  immunity  from 
the  disease  after  sloughing- of  the  organ  ;  it  might,  « jpnon,  have  been 
supposed  that  the  acute  inflammation  and  gangrene  would  have  pre- 
vented the  specific  action  of  the  virus  on  the  system,  and  there  is  reason 
to  believe  that  occasionally  this  does  occur,  as  I  have  seen  more  than 
one  case  of  pleuro  pneumonia  in  cows  that  had  lost  their  tail  after  inocu- 
lation. 

But  under  favorable  circumstances  a  slight  heat  and  tumefiu'tion 
occur  round  the  puncture,  at  a  period  varying  from  a  week  to  even  sixty 
days.  Commonly  from  the  ninth  to  the  fifteenth  day  the  local  erup- 
tion is  visible,  and  if  at  all  marked  is  attended  with  a  little  fever ;  a 
slight  shiver,  restlessness,  and  some  loss  of  appetite,  slightly  checked 
secretion  of  milk,  and  constipation,  may  be  noticed.  I  have  repeat- 
edly inoculated  all  the  cows  in  a  dairy,  and  the  owner  has  not  sustained 
the  slightest  loss  or  inconvenience  from  cows  going  oft"  their  milk;  indeed 
this  is  the  rule. 

Xo  pustule,  no  suppuration,  forms ;  untoward  results  consist  in  the 
excessive  local  swelling-,  or,  if  putrid  matter  has  been  used,  in  secondary 
deposits  at  the  root  of  the  tail,  around  the  anus  and  other  parts.  One 
of  the  most  remarkable  cases  I  ever  witnessed  was  one  in  which,  on  the 
seventeenth  day  after  a  carefully  perf(U'med  inoculation,  both  fore  legs 
and  brisket  swelled  up  enormously,  and  the  aniuud  suftered  intensely 
from  fever  and  died  on  the  fourth  day. 

As  a  rule,  no  after-treatment  is  necessary,  inasmuch  as  the  results  are 
so  slight  that  they  even  escape  observation  altogether.  But  Avlien 
ex(;essive  swellings  occur  it  is  best  to  use  cold  applications,  and  nothing 
is  better  than  a  steady  stream  of  cold  water  on  the  part  at  short  inter- 
vals. Incisions  are  not  always  desirable, but  where  it  is  deenuMl  advisa- 
ble to  relieve  great  tension,  they  must  be  deei)  and  free  ;  the  resulting 
wound  must  be  Mashed  with  a  solution  of  ses(iuichloride  of  iron  or 
chloride  of  zinc,  of  the  strength  of  four  grains  to  the  ounce  of  water. 
AVlien  file  animal  has  much  fever  and  is  costive,  a  saline  purge,  such  as 
a  j>()und  of  Epsom  salts,  affords  relief. 


THE    LUNG    PLAGUE. 


73 


Appendix  No.  1. 


Statement  of  losses  by  lung  plague  in  cattle  in  the  District  of  Columbia 
and  vicinity,  collected  for  Professor  Gamgee,  by  Mr.  G.  Beid,  Inglcside 
Farm,  Washington,  B.  C. 


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Oi\  THE  ILL  EFFECTS  OF  SMUTTY  COM  ON  CATTLE, 


BY   JOHN    GAMGEE,  M.  D. 


A   CAUSE   OF   DRY  MURRAIN. 

The  opportunity  presented  itself,  last  fall,  for  an  inquiry  as  to  the 
manner  in  which  smuts  which  attack  plants  may  aftect  animals.  The 
close  of  1868  was,  throughout  America,  very  wet;  a  large  amount  of 
corn  became  smutty,  that  is  to  say,  was  attacked  to  a  serious  extent  by 
ustilago  ma  id  is,  and  reports  reached  me  from  the  west  and  south*that 
cattle  were  dying  in  large  numbers  from  a  mysterious  malady,  the  origin 
of  which  was  unknown.  From  Mills  County,  Iowa,  I  was  informed,  late 
in  November,  that  about  the  12th  of  the  mouth  there  was  a  fall  of  snow 
six  inches  deep,  and  the  cattle,  which  usually  roam  at  large  on  the 
prairies,  were  taken  in  by  all  the  better  farmers  who  had  their  corn 
gathered,  and  turned  into  the  stalk  fields.  In  about  eight  days  the 
cattle  began  to  die,  aiul  all  presenting  the  same  symptoms.  My  inform- 
ant, Mr.  James  Hull,  of  Plattsmouth,  Nebraska,  lost  four  out  of  nine- 
teen head,  in  fourteen  days.  This  gentleman,  alarmed  at  the  number  of 
deaths,  turned  his  cattle  out  of  the  stalk  field  and  gave  them  all  the 
salt  they  would  eat,  mixed  with  copperas  and  sulphur.  As  soon  as  the 
bowels  were  moved  the  symptoms  disappeared.  Mr.  Hull  also  gave  the 
cattle  asafoetida  by  "  driving  it  into  the  cob  of  the  corn.'' 

Personal  inquiries  among  gentlemen  from  ditferent  parts  of  the  Cnited 
States,  in  Washington,  enabled  me  to  trace  the  malady  to  AVestern  Vir- 
ginia, Illinois,  and  the  Carolinas.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that 
accurate  information  as  to  the  extent  of  losses,  and  the  localities 
affected,  cannot  be  secured. 

There  are  other  circumstances  under  which  cattle  die  from  eating 
corn.  The  stalks,  very  late  in  the  season,  are  apt  to  get  very  hard  and 
indigestible,  aiul  Avithout  a  free  admixture  of  grass,  which  the  early 
frosts  kill,  and  the  other  food,  they  i)roduce  severe  iiuligestion  and 
death.  This  is  an  observation  that  has  freely  been  made  in  Anun-ica. 
Moreover,  cattle  die  sometimes  if  freely  fed  on  corn  that  has  been  badly 
stored,  and  is  musty.  The  same  results  follow  the  use  of  other  deteri- 
orated foods,  and  a  brief  reference  to  records  on  this  subject  may  be 
foun<l  interesting  and  iiistructive. 

The  facts  i)ublished  with  regard  to  the  prevalence  of  a  nnilady  from 
eating  sn^utcy  corn,  among  cattl^'.  in  America,  are  very  few.  If,  how- 
ever, the   rea^  cause  of  numy  cases  of    so-called    dry    murrain    had 


ILL    EFFECTS    OF    SMUTTY    CORN    ON    CATTLE.  79 

been  recorded  correctly,  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  demonstrating 
that  the  condition  of  the  corntields  has  had  much  to  do  in  developing 
this  disorder. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  has  received  information  of  the  death 
of  cattle  from  eating  smut  corn,  in  Hampshire  County,  Massachu- 
setts. Also  from  Whitley  County,  Indiana,  where  seven  head  of  cattle, 
out  of  tifty,  died,  "  probably  from  smut  in  the  corn  field  in  which  the 
herd  ranged." 

From  Story  County,  Iowa,  it  is  reported  that  last  "  ISTovember  a  dis- 
ease appeared  among  herds  recently  turned  into  corn-stalk  fields.  The 
disease  is  evidently  the  dry  murrain.  A  post  mortem  examination 
showed  the  nuicous  membrane  of  the  stomach  to  be  highly  inflamed, 
with  symptoms  of  poison.  It  is  evident  that  the  disease  is  generated 
in  the  stalk  fields,  and  probable  that  it  is  produced  by  gorging  the 
stomach  when  first  turned  into  the  stalks,  after  being  confined  on  the 
wild  frost-bitten  prairie  grass,  and  lack  of  sufficient  water."  A  few 
cattle  died  of  dry  murrain  in  Audubon  County,  in  the  same  State, 
"snpposed  by  some  to  be  caused  by  smut  in  corn-stalks."  A  few 
head  were  lost  from  the  same  cause  in  Calhoun  County,  and  many  are 
reported  to  have  died  in  Marshall  County.  We  are,  however,  informed 
from  Sac  County  that  many  cattle  died  in  December — cause  unknown; 
some  snpposed  from  eating  smut  corn,  but  that  has  been  disproved. 
It  is  to  be  regretted  that  more  is  not  stated  with  regard  to  the  reasons 
which  led  persons  to  doubt  the  eifects  of  the  smutty  corn.  Even  in 
New-York  State  little  credence  was  given  to  the  action  of  smutty  corn 
at  first ;  but  careful  inquiry  proved  that  after  all  it  was  the  cause  of 
the  dry  murrain  of  the  fall  of  1868.  From  Dakota  County,  Nebraska, 
we  learn  of  dry  murrain  from  eating  smut  corn ;  whereas  from  Shawnee 
County  it  is  reported,  and  no  doubt  correctly,  that  the  same  disease  has 
been  noticed  among  cattle  "  fed  on  prairie  hay,  cut  after  frost." 

In  Scotland  the  clovers  are  apt  to  induce  a  similar  condition  at  times, 
and  the  malady  is  then  called  "grass  disease."  It  is  not  a  specific  affec- 
tion, and  arises  from  a  dryness  and  indigestibility  of  one  kind  of  food, 
animals  being  debarred  by  circumstances  from  a  salutary  admixture  of 
different  kinds  of  feed. 

The  cultivatiim  of  maize  or  Indian  corn  is  already  ancient  in  America; 
and  the  introduction  of  this  important  grain  into  Spain,  and  as  far  back 
as  1500  into  Italy,  should  have  resulted  in  the  knowledge  of  its  effects 
on  man  and  animals,  under  the  many  conditions  under  which  it  is  found. 
And,  indeed,  we  are  not  without  some  knowledge  of  the  subject,  though 
it  is  to  be  regretted  that  accurate  information  cannot  be  gleaned  from 
the  writings  of  many  who  have  referred  to  it.  Both  in  its  eff'e<;ts  on 
men  and  animals,  it  Jipi)ears  to  me  that  the  consnmjttion  of  Indian  corn 
has  to  be  studied  in  those  ])arts  whereat  times,  and  even  to  the  present 
day,  it  constitutes  the  main  article  of  diet,  and  in  those  where  it  is  used 
at  all  times  with  other  kinds  of  food. 


80  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

Anionjjf  moil  in  America,  from  time  immemorial,  its  use  could  be 
diversilied  witli  game,  whereas  iu  some  parts  ofltaly,  remarkable  tor  the 
prevalence  of  pellagra,  among  their  inhabitants,  people  often  live  exclu- 
sively on  corn  bread,  or  the  corn  pudding  they  call  polenta.  The 
excess  of  starchy  constitnents,  and  scantiness  of  nitrogenous  materials 
in  comi)arison  with  other  grains  out  of  wliicli  flour  ami  bread  are  man- 
ufactured, have  been  considered  the  causes  of  a  cachectic  and  ill-nour- 
ished conditiou  said  to  i)revail  wherever  maize  is  the  staple  article  of 
diet  among  a  people. 

INIazzari,*  Nardi,t  and  Letti,  have  ascribed  the  pellagra  of  Italy,  and 
which  I  witnessed  some  years  ago  in  a  bad  form  in  the  hospital  of  Fer- 
rara,  as  due  to  diseased  or  smutty  corn. 

The  extensive  cultivation  of  maize  in  Italy  dates  from  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  it  is  recorded  by  the  celebrated  Monati,  and  others,  that 
before  that  period  pellagra  was  unknown.  Balardini  experimented  with 
a  view  to  demonstrate  that  the  smut  on  corn  was  poisonous,  and  he 
records  deleterious  effects  on  fowls  and  even  dogs. 

Although  this  does  not  exactly  correspond  with  one  result  I  have 
obtained,  and  recorded  below,  it  is  most  desirable  that  experiments 
should  be  continued  on  the  subject.  Balardini  confirms  the  observation 
of  Yallenzasca  della  Falcadina,  that  the  pellagra  recorded  by  Odoardi 
as  prevailing  in  the  Al})s  of  Bellano,  iu  J.776,  completely  disappeared  on 
the  introduction  of  the  potato  as  the  basis  of  the  food  of  the  poor. 

M.  Signad,  in  his  Diseases  of  Brazil,  attributes  tlie  chlorosis  or  inter- 
tropical hypaoemia  among  the  black  slaves  and  the  inhabitants  on  the 
western  side  of  the  Sierra  dos  Organo^,  to  the  exclusive  use  of  Indian 
corn. 

The  symptoms  recorded  by  Jubins  are,  pallor  of  the  face  and  body, 
yellowish,  somewhat  transparent,  and  sometimes  greenish  color  of  the 
skin.  The  blacks  that  become  affected  lose  their  color. 

M.  Eoodin  records,  in  the  fifth  volume  of  the  Journal  de  Chemie  Med- 
icale,  some  observations  on  Avhat  he  calls  ergot  of  maize,  but  which 
Heusinger  believes  is  the  ordinary  charbon,  or  snuit.  Eoulin  saw  this 
diseased  grain  in  the  southern  parts  of  Columbia,  where  it  is  called  maize 
peladero.  Its  use  causes  peo])le  to  lose  their  hair,  and  this  is  very 
remarkable  in  a  country  where  baldheadedness  is  almost  uidcnown,  even 
among  old  people. 

Sometimes  it  causes  looseness,  and  the  loss  of  teeth,  but  never  gan- 
grene of  the  limbs,  nor  convulsive  maladies.  Pigs  at  first  dislike  this 
diseased  corn,  but  soon  acquire  a  taste  for  it;  and  after  eating  it  for  a 
few  days,  their  bristles  drop  out,  and  later  on  there  is  an  awkwardness 
in  the  movements  of  their  hind  legs,  and  atroi)hy  affects  them.  Eating 
tlu'  ])igs  induc(!s  no  ill  etfects  on  man.  Mules  eat  the  maize  peladero, 
lose  their  hair,  and  sutler  from  engorgements  of  the  limbs;  they  are 

*  Siifjffio  mcdicn  politico  sulla  pclliijrra,  Milauo,  1836. 
t  Cause  cura  della  pellaj^ra,  Milano,  183G. 


ILL    EFFECTS    OF    SMUTTY    CORN    ON    CATTLE,  81 

tied  in  distant  pastures,  and  with  tlie  cliange  of  diet  some  recover. 
Hens  fed  on  tlie  material  lay  eggs  without  shells.  In  the  corn-fields 
where  the  disease  prevails  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  monkeys  and  par- 
rots fall,  and  unable  to  rise  again.  The  indigenous  dogs  and  deer  that 
enter  the  corn-fields  at  night  suffer  in  the  same  way. 

It  is  asserted  that  across  the  Paramos,  in  the  colder  parts  of  Colum- 
bia, these  accidents  are  not  seen ;  and  Dr.  Roulin  has  indeed  only  wit- 
nessed them  in  the  provinces  of  Neyba  and  Mariquita. 

Dulong*  has  analyzed  corn  smut,  and  although  his  analysis  cannot  at 
the  present  day  be  considered  satisfactory,  it  is  the  only  one  on  record. 
He  found  it  to  contain  a  material  similar  to  fungine,  a  material  allied 
to  osmazone,  a  nitrogenous  substance,  a  fatty  matter,  a  waxy  matter, 
acids,  a  brown  coloring  matter,  a  free  organic  acid,  and  combinations  of 
this  acid  with  magnesia  and  potash;  lastly,  he  found  phosphate,  muri- 
ate, and  sulphate  of  potash,  subphosphate  of  lime,  sal  ammoniac,  and 
oxide  of  iron;  it  contained  no  starch. 

Anxious  to  try  some  experiments  on  the  actions  of  pure  smut  on  cattle, 
1  employed  a  negro  in  January,  1SG9,  to  go  into  the  country  and  col- 
lect me  a  large  quantity  of  pure  smut. 

It  was  rather  late,  and  the  rains  had  washed  most  of  it  off  the  still 
standing  stalks;  but  I  obtained  forty-two  pounds  of  excellent  smut,  free 
from  adventitious  matters.  On  the  2Gth  day  of  February,  Mr.  George 
Reid,  of  Ingleside  farm,  near  Washington,  D.  C,  piu'chased  two  cows,  in 
good  health,  and  aged  respectively  about  seven  years.  One  cow  was  fed 
thrice  daily  one  and  one-half  pound  of  corn-meal  and  three  ounces  of 
smut,  mixed  with  as  much  cut  hay  as  she  would  eat.  The  second  had 
the  same  allowance,  but  wetted. 

On  the  7th  of  March  the  amount  of  smut  given  in  each  feed  was 
increased  to  six  ounces.  The  cow  fed  on  dry  food  lost  flesh.  On  the 
loth  of  March  the  dose  of  smut  was  increased  to  twelve  ounces  three 
times  a  day.  The  cow  on  the  wetted  food  gained  in  condition.  The 
other  one  lost.  In  three  weeks  the  two  cows  consumed  the  forty-two 
pounds  of  smut;  they  had  a  voracious  appetite  the  whole  time,  and  the 
only  indication  of  a  peculiar  diet  was  a  very  black  color  of  the  excre- 
ment, and  the  animal  losing  rather  than  gaining  flesh,  although  fed 
liberally  on  nutritious  diet,  though  in  a  dry  condition. 

On  the  12th  of  March  the  temperature  of  both  cows  was  tested;  and 
found  102O.2  and  102^.4  Fahr. 

No  conclusions  of  importance  can  be  drawn  from  a  single  experiment; 
but  it  is  evident  that  smut  is  not  a  very  active  poison  in  combination 
with  wholesome  food,  and  especially  if  the  animal  is  allowed  moist  food 
and  plenty  of  water  to  drink.  Cattle  will  eat  the  smut  greedily,  and 
possibly  a  morbid  taste  for  it  is  acquired,  as  has  been  observed  in  pigs. 
It  is  evident  that  cornstalks,  when  starch  and  other  nutritive  elements 


*  Journal  de  Pharinacie,  vol.  xiv. 

6 


82  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

have  goue  to  build  up  tlie  large  quantities  of  smut  iuvesting  tliem,  are 
essentially  dry,  indigestible  nuiterial  for  any  animal  to  live  on,  and 
especially  when  excluded  from  other  food.  That  is  qnite  sufficient  to 
account  for  the  development  of  dry  murrain  that  commonly  attacks 
cattle  in  the  United  States,  and  was  more  frequent  than  usual  last 
winter. 

Diversifying  and  multiplying  experiments  on  this  qnestion  will  undoubt- 
edly result  in  some  interesting  information,  and  I  am  qnite  confident 
that  it  will  be  fully  demonstrated  that  smutty  corn  cannot  be  safely,  and 
certainly  cannot  economically  be  used  as  a  food  for  cattle,  and  should 
not  be  allowed  them  without  a  great  admixture  of  hay  and  other  nutri. 
tious  food.  The  more  water  and  succulent  food  cattle  are  allowed  while 
eating  cornstalks,  the  less  liable  they  will  be  to  a  deadly  constipation 
and  gastric  impaction.  Numerous  and  even  angry  discussions  have  in 
times  past  been  carried  on  in  different  parts  of  Europe  in  relation  to 
the  action  of  moldy,  musty,  or  otherwise  damaged  fodder  on  the  lower 
animals,  and  a  few  observations  on  the  results  of  feeding  horses,  &c., 
on  hay  and  grain  tainted  hj  fungi  may  be  regarded  as  of  importance 
here,  if  only  as  a  means  of  comi^arison. 

The  evident  tendency  is  to  derange  the  alimentary  canal  in  the  first 
place,  then  disturb  the  i)rocess  of  nutrition  or  assimilation,  and  lastlj' 
to  excite  the  emunctories  for  the  discharge  of  noxious  principles,  and 
more  particularly  inducing  an  excessive  secretion  of  urine,  or  diarrhea. 

MUSTY  HAY. 

It  has  frequently  been  observed  that  the  imperfect  making  of  hay, 
esi)ecially  during  wet  seasons,  is  followed  by  serious  derangements 
among  horses,  mules,  and  other  animals,  which  suffer  from  severe  indi- 
gestion, impaction  of  the  stomach  accompanied  by  vertigo,  or  the  pro- 
fuse discharge  of  clear-colored  lu'ine,  with  an  intolerable  thirst,  emacia- 
tion, weakness,  and  death.  It  is  said  that  the  Hungarian  haj',  in 
different  parts  of  America,  and  especially  in  parts  ot  Kentucky,  Mis- 
souri, and  Kansas,  is  apt  to  cause  considerable  losses,  if  cut  after  full 
inflorescence  and  late  in  the  season.  I  have  been  told  by  Kansas  farmers 
that  great  attention  has  to  be  paid  to  a  sufficiently  early  hay-making  in 
order  to  avoid  accidents. 

In  1855  I  witnessed  in  Lyons,  France,  a  large  amount  of  disease  and 
many  deaths  among  horses,  from  the  great  al)undance  of  musty  hay, 
gathered  during  an  unusuallj'^  w^et  season.  Scarcely  a  day  passed  but 
one  or  more  cart  horses  were  literally  dragged  to  the  veterinary  college. 
They  moved  along  with  hanging  head,  sunken  eye,  depended  lip,  ami 
tottering  gait,  suffering  from  pains  in  the  abdomen,  and  considerable 
tympanitis;  partial  sweats  bedewed  the  body,  the  visible  mucous  mem- 
branes were  of  an  intensely  yellow  color,  and  the  urine  dark.  On  reach- 
ing a  loose  box,  the  patients  were  tied  to  a  center  post,  which  turned  as 
they  moved  round,  and  prevented  them  liom  dashing  their  heads  against 


I 


ILL  EFFECTS  OF  SMUTTY  COEN  ON  CATTLE.        83 

the  wall.  The  muscles  twitclied,  the  horses  writhed  in  pain,  and  dashed 
about  in  tits  of  deliriuni.  Two  hundred  and  forty-nine  cases  of  this 
kind  were  admitted  into  the  infirmary  from  August,  1854,  to  August, 
1855.  The  disease  raged  almost  as  an  epizootic  from  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, 1851;  and  not  only  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lyons,  but  in  many 
departments  of  France. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1856,  I  was  requested  to  see  a  Clydesdale 
stallion,  near  Kirkcaldy,  in  Fife.  This  horse  had,  as  is  very  usual  on 
Scotch  ftirms,  been  turned  into  a  large  shed,  and  allowed  as  much  hay  as 
he  would  eat,  and  a  couple  of  feeds  of  oats.  On  moving  the  animal  out 
of  the  stable,  he  nearly  fell,  and  had  evidently  lost  much  of  his  natural 
control  over  the  movements  of  his  hinder  limbs.  It  was  no  new  form  of 
disease,  but  one  of  those  singular  forms  of  hemiplegia  so  commonly 
olbserved  in  herbivorous  animals,  as  the  result  of  improper  feeding  and 
acute  indigestion.  The  owner  thought  the  animal  had  seriously  injm^ed  his 
spine.  A  cathartic  dose  of  aloes,  the  discontinuance  in  the  use  of  hay 
which  was  musty,  and  a  few  doses  of  tonic  medicine,  restored  the  horse. 
From  that  time  I  was  consulted  frequently,  and  in  different  parts, 
especially  around  Edinburgh  and  on  the  border  counties  of  Scotland, 
regarding  this  disease.  A  large  number  of  animals  died,  from  ignorance 
of  the  nature  and  treatment  of  the  disease,  which  disappeared  with  the 
close  of  a  season  during  which  the  bad  crop  of  hay  was  being  consumed. 
These  observations  are  recorded  as  mere  instances  of  frequently  recurring 
accidents,  resulting  from  the  feeding  of  horses  on  musty  hay. 

MUSTY   OATS. 

Among  the  numerous  sources  of  inconvenience  and  loss  to  owners 
of  horses  in  Europe  and  America,  few  are  more  troublesome  than  the 
results  of  feeding  on  musty  oats.  I  have  known  a  large  establishment, 
with  near  five  hundred  horses,  whose  entire  stock  was  simultaneously 
affected.  Attention  was  first  directed  to  the  unusual  wetness  of  the 
litter  in  the  morning,  and  a  great  craving  for  water.  The  animals  were 
weak,  dull  in  harness,  and  hollow-flanked.  The  wasting  of  tissues  pro- 
gressed rapidly ;  and  in  all  that  had  any  considerable  exertion  to  undergo, 
the  unthrifty  look  of  their  skin,  well  defined  muscles  from  wasting  of 
the  fat  around  them,  and  the  leanness  of  the  upper  part  of  the  neck, 
where  the  great  ligament  suspending  the  head  coidd  be  felt,  like  a  rigid 
cord,  constituted  very  decided  and  alarming  symptoms.  Persistence  in 
work  resulted  in  a  form  of  albuminuria ;  sometimes  diarrhea  was  readily 
induced,  and  a  purgative  would  so  contribute  to  increase  the  weakness 
and  prostration  that  the  animal  would  die  or  fall  in  a  state  of  hectic. 
All  this  disturbance  in  the  functions  of  nutrition,  assimilation,  and 
secretion  ceased  on  changing  the  diet,  administering  astringents  or 
drachm  doses  of  iodide  of  potassium  for  a  few  days,  and  following  n[) 
with  a  course  of  sulphate  of  iron,  as  a  tonic,  in  very  moderate  (piantities, 
not  exceeding  half  a  drachm  or  a  drachm  to  a  horse  per  day. 


84  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Several  epizootic  attacks  have  been  attributed  to  rust  or  mildew  in 
plants.  Froiinuent  looked  upon  it  as  causing  great  loss  among  sheep  in 
Franconia,  during  the  years  16G3,  '04,  and  '05.  Rammazinni,  professor 
of  medicine,  at  Padua,  speaks  of  a  contagious  malady  affecting  men, 
cattle,  and  even  the  silk  worm,  which  broke  out  in  1090.  The  four  or 
five  preceding  years  had  been  very  hot,  and  during  1089  and  1090,  much 
rain  having  tallen,  the  country  was  inundated,  the  grasses,  fruits,  and 
leguminous  plants  became  affected  with  rust.  Plagues  which  raged 
among  animals  in  Ilesse  in  1093,  in  Hungary  in  1712,  and  in  Saxony  in 
1740,  occurred  with,  and  as  a  result  of,  mildew  affecting  vegetables- 
Gerlach  asserts  that  this  will  produce  abortion  and  inflammation  of  the 
womb  in  ewes.  Numan,  Masseband,  and  Niemann  have  also  written  on 
the  noxious  properties  of  plants  affected  with  rust. 

RUSTY   STRAW. 

In  1804  Gohier,  afterwards  director  of  the  Lyons  veterinary  college, 
but  then  veterinary  surgeon  to  the  20th  light  dragoons,  published  an 
interesting  monograph  entitled  "Des  effects  des  pailles  rouilles."  The 
depot  of  Gohier's  regiment  arrived  at  Arras  on  the  7th  of  June,  with 
about  two  hundred  horses.  For  a  month  they  continued  healthy,  being 
supplied  with  good  forage ;  some  of  the  straAV,  however,  was  rusty.  The 
whole  regiment  arrived  and  the  straw  supplied  was  worse ;  several  horses 
fell  ill,  being  mainly  attacked  by  violent  colic.  In  three  days  fourteen 
were  affected  with  the  disease;  but  with  the  exception  of  two  old  horses 
that  were  ill  for  three  days,  the  disease  was  only  of  a  few  hoiu*s  dura- 
tion. The  horses  that  partook  most  freely  of  the  rusty  straw  were  most 
seriously  affected.  In  seven  days  thirty  had  suffered,  and  MM.  Gohier 
and  Masigny  drew  up  a  report  condemning  the  forage.  Their  opinion 
was  rejected  by  veterinary  surgeons  and  others  called  upon  to  inquire 
into  the  matter,  aiid  the  whole  evil  was  attributed  to  some  water  of 
which,  however,  the  horses  had  always  drunk  while  enjoying  perfect 
health.  After  considerable  annoyance  and  litigation  it  was  recog- 
nized that  the  rusty  straw  and  even  bad  hay  had  given  rise  to  much 
disease  and  death  among  the  horses  of  the  regiment.  During  eight 
ihonths,  out  of  seven  hundred  horses,  there  were  constantly  from  forty- 
five  to  fifty  in  the  infirmary,  and  in  the  month  of  November  as  many  as 
sixty-two.  The  deaths  were  by  those  diseases  which  always  prevail 
when  animals  are  badly  nourished,  namely:  stomach  staggers,  colic, 
marasmus,  glanders,  farcy,  skin  diseases,  catarrhal  affections,  and  oede- 
matous  swellings.  Those  horses  subject  to  anlema  were  very  subject 
to  gangrene,  and  if  setons  were  applied,  or  a  farcy-bud  cauterized  by  fire, 
mortification  of  the  wounded  parts  supervened,  and  the  animals  died  in  a 
few  hours.  Gohiei-  says  that  not  only  the  rusty  straw  but  likewise  the 
bad  hay  was  tlu^  cause  of  such  serious  loss  among  the  lunses  of  his  regi- 
ment. Gohier  instituted  several  experiments  to  prove  that  the  diseased 
straw  was  injurious,  and  not  only  was  he  successful  with  the  straw,  but 


ILL    EFFECTS    OF    SMUTTY    CORN    ON    CATTLE.  85 

a  decoction  of  the  same  induced  loss  of  appetite,  a  tliin  and  sickly 
aspect,  and  altogether  evidence  that  the  animals  had  been  poisoned. 

MOLDY   BREAD. 

Flour  is  attacked  by  a  very  noxious  red  or  orange-colored  mold, 
{Penicilliiim  roseum)  and  a  less  poisonous  greenish-blue  mold,  {PenicilUum 
glaucum).  Bread  made  from  flour  which  has  been  kept  in  a  damp  place, 
or  that  which  is  the  produce  of  wheat  grown  and  harvested  during 
unfavorable  weather,  becomes  moldy  and  may  become  very  deleterious. 
Accidents  have  happened  where  horses  have  been  fed  on  such  bread, 
and  I  may  mention  that  it  is  not  uncommon  at  times  and  in  some  coun- 
tries for  horses  to  be  fed  partly  on  bread.  Eating  moldy  bread  has 
been  said  to  induce  gastro-enteritis  in  horses,  and  Professor  Fuchs  saw 
two  cases  of  stomach  staggers  induced  by  it,  which  were  relieved  by 
purgatives. 

SYMPTOMS  OF  THE  ILL  EFFECTS  OF  SMUTTY  CORN.      . 

Cattle  fed  on  smutty  corn  stalks  first  denote  ill  health  by  constipa- 
tion. It  is  true  that  a  farmer  may  be  only  attracted  by  an  animal  lying 
down,  with  an  unthrifty-looking,  stary  coat,  dry  muzzle,  and  perhaps 
trembling;  or  a  steer  may  be  noticed  "tucked  up,"  with  hind  limbs 
drawn  under  it,  head  depressed,  shivering,  dullness  of  eyes,  and  anx- 
ious expression  of  countenance.  In  a  third  variety  the  animal  seems 
excited,  breathes  quickly,  and  is  apparently  somewhat  delirious,  indeed, 
in  the  conditions  described  by  Mr.  Gumming  of  Ellen,  Aberdeenshire,  as 
resulting  from  impactions  of  the  third  stomach,  as  in  cases  of  lead  poison- 
ing. Nothing  is  more  strange  than  this  delirium,  associated  as  it  is 
sometimes  with  blindness.  A  farmer  writing  me  from  the  west  says 
that  when  he  tried  to  put  a  rope  around  the  head  of  a  sick  cow,  which 
he  found  standing  with  all  the  symptoms  of  sickness  presented  by  other 
animals  of  the  herd  which  had  been  with  her  in  the  corn  field,  she  turned 
to  fight  and  fought  furiously.  I  have  seen  an  animal  in  this  conditoni 
tied  up  in  a  stall,  rush  forward,  fall  on  her  knees,  and  then  extending 
herself  on  her  side,  suffer  from  a  convulsive  fit.  Or  in  other  cases,  when 
attempts  are  made  to  lead  such  an  animal  about,  it  runs  forward, 
I)lunges,  strikes  against  any  obstacle,  roars,  moans,  grunts  in  breathing, 
and  ai)pears  to  suffer  acutely  if  touched  or  disturbed.  In  other  words, 
with  the  imi)a(;tions  Of  the  third  stomach,  which  itj  the  essential  lesion 
of  the  disease,  wliether  induced  by  smutty  stalks,  old  indigestible  stalks 
that  have  no  smut,  or  other  kind  of  food  or  poison,  there  are  two  dis- 
tinct conditions  induced.  The  one  of  stupor,  listlessness,  vertigo, 
depression  of  spirits ;  and  these  are  indicated  by  animals  standing  sul- 
lenly until  they  drop  or  are  relieved.  The  se(5ond  is  a  state  of  exquisite 
sensitiveness,  hypersesthesia  of  the  skin  and  system  generally.  The 
animals  are  not  only  excited  but  in  a  state  of  actual  suffering,  and  die 
very  speedily  in  a  state  of  coma  or  in  convulsions.    The  disease  does 


^^6  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

not  last  lon^\  I  liave  seen  an  animal  linger  on  foiu?  or  five  days,  but 
nsnally  the  Avhole  course  of  the  malady  is  run  in  from  twenty-four  to 
forty-eiy,]it  hours. 

An  animal  lirst  seems  to  show  costiveness,  with  a  dry  mucus  over 
the  scanty  excrement;  although  apparently  undisturbed  and  even  feeding, 
may  be  dead  in  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours. 

The  diagnosis  of  the  disease  at  an  early  period  of  its  manifestations  is 
therefore  imi)ortant,  and  it  rests  on  the  knowledge  of  how  animals  have 
been  treated  and  fed,  (as  the  simultaneous  attack  of  several  animals 
show,)  and  especially  on  the  observations  of  a  fact  that  I  have  usually 
traced,  that  the  animals  which  have  eaten  most  ravenously  have  been 
the  first  and  most  severely  affected.  Old  cattle  may  sometimes  avoid 
the  smutty  food,  and  young  animals  eat  heartily ;  these  will  be  found 
the  first  and  oulj"  ones  to  die. 

POST-MORTEM  APPEARANCES. 

The  state  of  torpor  of  the  alimentary  canal  of  animals  affected  with 
this  disease  is  indicated  on  opening  the  belly  and  exposing  the  stomach 
to  view.  In  the  first,  or  x^aunch,  corn  husks  and  corn  are  found  in  a  dry 
condition.  Sometimes  the  rumen  is  very  full,  and  gas  may  have  become 
disengaged  in  it  so  as  to  cause  a  great  distension,  which  is  relieved  by 
puncture.  The  contents  of  the  second  stomach,  or  reticulum,  are  in  the 
same  condition  as  those  of  the  first,  though  sometimes  mixed  with  some 
fluid.  The  third  stomach,  manyplies  or  omasum,  is  firm,  distended,  and 
on  being  opened  the  food  is  found  caked  between  the  folds,  with  marked 
impressions  of  the  papillte  or  little  eminences  which  stud  the  mucous 
membrane.  We  find  in  almost  all  fevers  a  similar  condition  of  the  third 
stomach,  and  indeed  in  healthy  animals  it  is  that  part  of  the  digestive 
organs  in  which  the  food  is  most  dry  and  packed  preparatory  for  solu- 
tion by  the  gastric  juice  and  intestinal  secretions.  But  there  are  other 
lesions  associated  with  this  "caking"  of  the  food  in  the  third  stomach, 
in  specific  diseases,  and  its  existence  without  these  affords  evidence  of  a 
primary  form  of  impaction,  which  has  received  the  most  remarkable 
names,  such  as  "  staking,"  "  bound,"  "  fardel-bound,"  &c.  The  fourth 
stomach  contains  but  a  scanty  quantity  of  greenish,  semi-digested  mat- 
ter, is  usually  reddened  somewhat  dittusely,  and  the  redness  increases 
at  times  toward  the  opening  of  the  small  intestines. 

Tlie  intestine,  usually  replete  with  somewhat  solid  and  imperfectly 
digested  food,  is  usually  high  colored,  especially  in  the  fundus  of  the 
cjecum,  and  in  the  large  portion  of  the  colon.  The  rectum  is  the  seat 
of  ramified  redness,  and  a  consistent  mucus  coats  its  contents. 

I'ersous  have  rei)(>rtud  a  peculiar  black  color  of  one  lung.  This  is 
only  due  to  stagimtion  of  blood  after  death,  in  the  organ  nearest  the 
ground;  and  the  same  kind  of  stasis  or  settling  of  the  blood  is  apt  to 
pervade  other  tissues  and  organs  in  the  side  on  which  an  animal  has 
been  l^ing. 


ILL    EFFECTS    OF    SMUTTY    CORN    ON    CATTLE.  87 


TREATMENT. 

I  liave  foiiiicl  tlie  accidents  resulting  from  tlie  feeding  of  smutty  corn 
to  cattle  very  amenable  to  treatment.  Almost  all  tlie  animals  die  unless 
relieved,  but  it  is  not  difidcult  to  treat  them  very  successfully.  At  first 
a  purgative  must  be  administered;  such  as  a  pound  or  a  pound  and  a 
half  of  Epsom  salts,  or  Glauber's  salts  alone,  or  combined  with  aloes, 
suli)hur,  ginger.    The  following  is  a  desirable  purging  drink : 

Sulphate  of  magnesia 1  pound. 

Powdered  aloes 4  drachms. 

Powdered  ginger •. 2  drachms. 

Water 1  quart. 

This  to  be  given  in  warm  linseed  tea,  oat-meal,  gruel  or  pure  water. 
A  pound  or  two  of  treacle  with  eight  drachms  of  aloes  or  with  a  pint  of 
linseed  or  sweet  oil  may  be  used  when  the  salts  are  not  at  hand.  Cattle 
should  be  induced  to  drink  either  plain  water  or  linseed  tea.  Common 
salt  will  create  thirst,  and  for  this  purpose  may  be  given  in  such  quan- 
tities as  will  not  make  the  liquid  too  salt  to  be  palatable.  Warm  water 
injections  are  of  the  highest  importance,  and  for  this  i)urpose  the  enema 
funnel,*  which  can  be  made  by  any  tinsmith  at  a  charge  of  about  fifty 
cents,  is  the  best  instrument  yet  devised.  About  a  quart  or  two  of 
lukewarm  water,  without  any  addition  but  a  little  sweet  oil  to  lubricate 
the  tube  of  the  instrument,  may  be  poured  into  the  rectum  every  half 
hour.  On  the  second  day  it  may  be  found  that  the  medicine  does  not 
act  very  freely.  The  best  agent  to  be  given  then  is  carbonate  of  ammo- 
nia in  half-drachm  doses,  twice  a  day,  largely  diluted  with  linseed  tea 
or  gruel.  Care  must  be  taken  in  giving  this  medicine  not  to  excoriate 
the  mouth.  As  soon  as  the  appetite  returns,  a  succulent  diet,  such  as 
gTass,  boiled  turnips,  charbeters,  sweet  hay,  &c.,  completes  the  animal's 
restoration. 

PREVENTION. 

It  is  evident  that  all  such  accidents  as  these  I  have  described  may  be 
completely  prevented  by  not  allowing  cattle  to  eat  indigestible  corn- 
stalks, whether  their  indigestibility  arises  from  age,  dryness,  or  smut. 
Mixed  with  an  abundance  of  soft  food  such  material  may  do  no  harm, 
and  indeed  has  constantly  been  used  with  impunity;  but  losses  are  very 
severe  if  cattle  are  compelled  either  to  starve  or  to  eat  what  may  well 
be  compared  to  broomsticks. 

The  farmer  who  annually  loses  a  large  amount  of  the  produce  of  lands 
tilled  at  great  cost  and  trouble,  should  reflect  that  smut  on  corn  is  only 
•evidence  of  bad  larming,  and,  apart  from  the  fact  of  danger  to  lives  of 

*  This  is  an  ordinary  tin  funnel,  capable  of  holding  one  quart,  with  the  pipe  bent  at 
right  angles,  about  ten  inches  long  from  the  bend,  with  the  extremity  rounded  by  a 
mass  of  soft  sohler  to  prevent  the  rectum  being  injured  by  the  insertion  of  the  sharp 
edges  of  the  pipe.    The  contents  How  into  the  intestine  by  gravitation. 


88  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE, 

the  animals  on  the  farm,  it  is  most  desirable  to  extirpate  the  pest.  That 
its  extiri)atiou  is  possible  few  will  doubt  who  know,  in  relation  to  other 
parasitic  plants,  such  as  the  rust  in  wheat,  how  effectually  the  seed 
may  be  purified  and  a  healthy  plant  obtained  in  a  well-prepared  soil. 
Having-  fresh  land  to  break  up  or  old  to  plow  again,  the  farmer  should 
plow  deeply  and  turn  over  the  soil  effectually.  He  should  obtain  his 
seed  from  a  district  or  farm  that  is  high,  dry,  well  cultivated,  and  free 
from  smut.  Inasmuch,  however,  as  the  spores  of  ustilago  maidis  are 
minute  and  in  the  form  of  impalpable  powder,  thousands  may  be  dis- 
persed in  a  sample  of  corn  and  grow  with  the  plant.  To  avoid  this, 
dipping  the  grain  in  a  solution  of  copperas  may  be  found  of  great  service. 
The  copjieras,  in  the  proportion  of  one  pound  to  the  four  bushels  of  corn, 
is  to  be  dissolved  in  a  little  warm  water,  then  cold  added  to  mak«  about 
a  stable  pailfull,  and  with  this  the  corn  is  simjily  washed,  not  soaked. 
Soaking  makes  the  grain  swell  and  interferes  with  sowing  in  machines. 
The  corn  is  sown  as  soon  as  damped  with  the  solution. 


THE  SPLENIC  OR  PERIODIC  FEVER  OF  CATTLE. 


BY   JOHN   GAMGEE,   M.   D. 


The  transportation  of  nortlieru  cattle  into  Florida,  Texas,  parts  of 
Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and  South  Carolina,  and  the  traveling- of  southern 
herds  across  the  grazing  lands  of  States  northward,  result  iu  the  sick- 
ness and  death  of  the  animals  which  come  within  the  range  of  a  singular 
form  of  contamination.  In  Missouri,  Kansas,  Arkansas,  Virginia,  Ken- 
tucky, Carolina,  and  Georgia,  the  so-called  Spanish  or  Texas  fever  has 
been  the  cause  of  losses  prior  to  and  since  the  war,  and  more  especially 
during  last  summer,  which  have  excited  the  most  virulent  opposition 
among  the  stock-raisers  of  those  States  to  the  driving  of  Texan  steers 
across  the  prairies.  The  nature  of  this  feeling  is  indicated  by  a  letter 
from  Mr,  S.  Morgan  Welch,  of  Waverly,  Missouri,  who,  in  a  letter  to 
the  Prairie  Farmer  of  the  26th  of  September,  1868,  says:  "Talk  to  a 
Missourian  about  moderation,  when  a  drove  of  Texas  cattle  is  coming, 
and  he  will  call  you  a  fool,  while  he  coolly  loads  his  gun,  and  joins  his 
neighbors ;  and  they  intend  no  scare,  either.  They  mean  to  kill,  and 
will  and  do  kill,  and  keep  killing  until  the  drove  takes  the  back  track ; 
and  the  drovers  must  be  careful  not  to  get  between  their  cattle  and  the 
citizens,  either,  unless  they  are  bullet-proof.  No  doubt  this  looks  a  good 
deal  like  border-rufaanism  to  you,  but  it  is  the  way  we  keep  clear  of  the 
Texas  fever ;  and,  my  word  for  it,  Illinois  will  have  to  do  the  same  thing 
yet. 

"Congress  ought  to  do  something  in  regard  to  this  stock.  Very 
stringent  laws  were  passed  in  regard  to  the  rinderpest,  and  yet  it  is 
scarcely  more  fatal  than  Texas  fever,  only  the  latter  is  not  contagious 
among  our  native  cattle.  Texas  stock  should  not  be  allowed  to  cross  the 
35th  parallel  of  north  latitude  alive." 

With  rare  exceptions  the  States  of  Illinois  and  Indiana  have  not  been 
visited  with  splenic  fever  prior  to  1868,  and  the  great  reason  for  this  is, 
that  southern  stock  has  been  slaughtered  in  the  west  by  butchers  and 
packers  in  the  winter  months,  and  have  not  been  purchased  in  large 
quantities  by  cattle  dealers  and  graziers,  to  fatten  on  the  western 
prairies.  But  steers  in  Texas  can  be  had  in  their  prime  for  eight  and 
ten  dollars  in  gold.  It  has  been  recently  computed  that  there  are  five 
million  head  in  that  State  alone,  and  that  the  net  yearly  increase,  after 
allowing  a  discount  of  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  loss  by  disease  and  casu- 
alties, amounts  to  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  head. 

It  is  impossible  to  exaggerate  the  sufferings  Texan  cattle  endure  in 


90  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

being  transported  by  steamers  from  tlie  Texan  coast  to  New  Orleans 
and  thence  to  eastern  or  to  western  cities;  and  it  is,  likewise,  diflicult  to 
draw  too  vivid  a  i)ictnre  of  the  perils  and  anxieties  of  a  drover's  life. 
Energeti(;  frontiersmen  in  small  bands,  armed  to  their  teeth,  collect  a 
herd  of  cattle,  varying  from  two  to  twelve  hundred,  and  then  drive  at 
the  rate  of  eight  or  ten  miles  a  day,  through  unsettled  lands,  a  distance 
of  from  six  to  nine  hundred  miles;  always  watching  lest  their  cattle 
and  horses  be  stampeded,  or  their  own  scalps  taken  by  wild  Indians. 
Storms  and  herds  of  buffaloes  are  minor  causes  tending  to  scatter  the 
drover's  property;  but  it  is  not  uncommon  for  a  heavy  percentage  of 
amimals  to  be  lost  from  one  or  all  the  foregoing  causes  combined. 

Notwithstanding  the  waste  in  flesh  and  lives  among  stock  ou  the 
New  Orleans  route,  and  the  hardships  to  be  endured  by  drovers  in  the 
southwest,  the  prices  realized  by  Texan  steers,  when  reaching  the  great 
markets  of  America,  prove,  in  many  instances,  highly  remunerative. 

The  scarcity  of  cattle  in  the  west,  especially  since  the  war,  the  tempt- 
ing prospects  of  utilizing  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  open  and 
unreclaimed  prairie  lands,  the  constitutional  soundness  of  Texas  cattle, 
which  enables  them  individually  to  withstand  influences  which  are 
destructive  to  other  stock,  are  all  causes  which  tend  to  favor  the  invest- 
ment of  western  capital  in  such  stock. 

The  current  has  been  too  strong  for  ordinary  State  legislation ;  and 
early,  during  the  past  spring,  a  strong  tide  set  in,  which  brought  large 
herds  into  the  west,  through  New  Orleans  and  Cairo,  or  via  Abilene  to 
St.  Louis,  Quincy,  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  and  many  grazing  farms  between 
those  points. 

The  peoi)le  of  Illinois  were  warned  by  Mr.  D.  C.  Emerson,  of  Vanda- 
lia,  in  a  letter  to  the  Chicago  Tribune,  of  the  26th  of  ]May.  Circum- 
stances have  tended  to  give  a  historical  worth  to  that  brief  comnuinica- 
tion.  Mr.  Emerson  said:  "Having  been  a  constant  reader  of  your  val- 
uable paper  for  many  years,  and  wishing  to  promote  the  general  good 
and  prosperity  of  our  great  and  growing  State,  I  would  call  the  atten- 
tion of  farmers  and  cattle- growers  to  the  following  facts : 

"While  at  Centralia,  yesterday,  I  saw  a  very  long  train  of  stock  cars 
filled  with  Texan  and  with  Indiana  oxen  on  their  way  to  Iroquois  County^ 
there  to  be  ftittened  on  the  ricli  prairies ;  and  I  learned  that  there  were 
in  the  lot  fourteen  hundred  head  of  old,  worn-out  oxen,  bringing  the 
'Spanish  fever  with  them.  A  writer  in  the  Missouri  Democrat  has  de 
scribed  this  disease  as  contagious,  and  says  that  it  causes  the  destruction 
of  our  home  cattle,  wherever  these  Texas  cattle  are  taken." 

I  arrived  in  Chicago  on  the  1st  of  June,  the  day  on  which  ]\rr.  Emer- 
son's letter  was  ]nibHshed,  and  wi'ote  to  tlu'  (Miicago  Tribune,  communi- 
cating information  whicli  had  been  furnished  me  by  General  Horace 
Capron,  and  wliich  indi(nited  that,  while  trustworthy  and  ai)palling 
reports  of  the  Spanish  fever  had  been  furnished  by  the  people  of  Kan- 
sas, Missouri,  Kentucky,  and  even  Illinois,  the  Texas  people  were  indig- 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  91 

iiaut  at  the  inipiitatious  cast  on  their  herds,  just  as  the  Eussiaiis  were 
when  we  attributed  the  rinderpest  to  importations  from  their  country. 

Althoitgh  the  subject  of  meat  preservation  had  brought  me  to  Amer- 
ica, it  was  only  because  1  had  for  years  striven,  and,  to  a  certain  extent, 
striven  in  vain,  to  secure  rational  regulations  of  the  cattle  traffic  for  the 
prevention  of  contagious  diseases  in  my  own  country;  and  it  was  a  mat- 
ter of  deep  interest  to  me  to  find  that  similar  dangers  threatened  the 
stock  owners  of  the  west. 

The  abundant  influx  into  Illinois  of  Gulf  Coast  cattl6  soon  brought 
notices  of  the  ravages  by  disease  at  Cairo  and  elsewhere;  but  none  were 
heeded,  until  it  was  reported  on  the  27th  of  July  that  Mr.  E.  Kichard- 
son,  of  Farina,  had  written  to  Governor  Oglesby  in  regard  to  the  numer- 
ous deaths  among  the  cattle  of  the  inhabitants  of  his  district,  and  that 
eight  to  ten  a  day  were  dying.  Mr.  John  L.  Hancock,  of  the  firm  of 
Messrs.  Cragiu  &  Co.,  Chicago,  at  once  induced  the  Pork  Packers'  Asso- 
ciation to  appoint  a  commission,  consisting  of  Mr.  W.  E.  Richardson, 
Dr.  Blaney,  and  myself,  to  visit  the  localities  where  the  disease  had 
appeared,  and  report  on  the  matter. 

We  accordingly  started  on  the  evening  of  the  29th  of  July,  and  pros- 
ecuted inquiries  at  Tolono,  Farina,  and  Cairo,  returning  to  Chicago  on 
the  4th  of  August.  On  the  5th  I  was  requested  to  continue  my  investi- 
gations for  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and,  with  the  Commission- 
er's consent,  had  the  advantage  of  continued,  earnest  co-operation  on 
the  part  of  Mr.  W.  E.  Richardson  and  Mr.  H.  D.  Emery,  editors  of  the 
Prairie  Farmer.  Both  these  gentlemen  brought  to  bear  a  knowledge  of 
the  country,  and  the  cattle  trade,  which  materially  aided  me  in  my  inqui- 
ries, and  they  have  favored  me  with  their  advice  and  assistance,  up  to 
the  completion  of  the  i^resent  report. 

In  accordance  with  the  instructions  received,  I  aimed  at  determining 
the  following  points: 

1.  The  extent  and  nature  of  the  Texan  cattle  traffic,  and  the  state  of 
health  of  the  Texan  cattle. 

2.  The  circumstances  under  which  these  animals  communicate  disease 
to  the  stock  of  the  west,  and  other  parts  north  of  the  Gulf  States. 

3.  The  history  of  the  Texan  fever,  as  it  spreads  over  the  States. 

4.  I'he  symi^toms,  post-mortem  appearances,  and  nature  of  the  so- 
called  Spanish  or  Texan  fever. 

5.  The  means  to  be  adopted  for  the  prevention  of  the  disease,  and  th^ 
cure  of  the  sick  animals. 

My  investigations  have  extended  over  the  States  of  Illinois,  Indiana, 
Kentucky,  Missoiu'i,  Kansas,  and  Texas,  and  these  enable  me  to  speak 
very  positively  as  to  the  nature  of  the  disease,  and  the  means  w  liich 
must  be  adopted  to  prevent  it. 

In  the  present  report  it  is  my  intention  to  I'cstrict  myself  to  the 
annexed  heads : 

1.  Definitions  of  the  disease. 


92  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

2.  Symptoms. 

3.  Post-mortem  appearances. 

4.  Causes  and  nature  of  the  disease. 

5.  Curative  treatment. 

6.  Preventiou. 

DEFINITION. 

The  splenic  or  periodic  fever,  commonly  known  as  Texas  fever,  Span- 
ish fever,  or  cattle  fever,  and  which  has  been  observed  wherever  and 
whenever  cattle  from  the  States  or  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  have  been. driven 
north  during-  the  summer  months,  is  a  disease  peculiar  to  the  ox  tribe, 
which  has  never  been  described  ijs  attacking  the  southern  cattle,  and 
which  occurs,  in  a  more  or  less  latent  form,  among  them.  Its  distinguish- 
ing features  have  been  most  marked  in  the  cattle  of  Georgia,  Tennessee, 
Virginia,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Illinois,  and  Indiana,  wherever 
these  have  grazed  on  i)astures  j^reviously  or  simultaneously  occupied  by 
herds  from  Texas  and  Florida.  It  is,  so  far  as  we  have  yet  ascertained, 
incapable  of  communication  hy  simple  contact  of  sick  and  of  healthy 
animals  ;  and,  iu  the  strict  sense  of  the  terms,  is  neither  contagious  nor 
infectious.  It  is  an  enzootic  disorder,  i)robably  due  to  the  food  on  which 
southern  cattle  subsist,  whereby  the  systems  of  these  animals  become 
charged  Avith  deleterious  principles,  that  are  afterwards  propagated  and 
dispersed  by  the  excreta  of  apparently  healthy,  as  well  as  obviously  sick, 
stock.  It  is  not  one  of  the  epizootics  proper,  and  in  its  origin  and  distribu- 
tion differs  from  the  plagues  due  to  specific  animal  poisons  which  are 
common  in  various  parts  of  the  Old  World  and  the  New.  The  malady  is 
probably  incapable  of  communication  by  inoculation,  and  the  flesh,  blood, 
and  secretions  of  such  cattle  have  been  handled  and  consumed  by  human 
beings  without  the  manifestation  of  untoward  results. 

In  Texas,  cattle  of  all  ages,  from  the  time  they  begin  to  graze,  are 
afflicted  with  the  malady  in  a  somewhat  latent  and  mild  form.  Early  in 
the  year  many  animals  die,  especially  when  the  wet  deteriorates  the 
grasses ;  and  the  mortality,  of  which  any  one  can  gain  evidence  in  crossing 
Texan  prairies  and  seeing  the  carcasses,  is  ascribed  to  poverty.  It  is, 
however,  a  feature  everywhere  that  cattle  do  not  attain  the  same  weight 
in  the  south,  even  on  the  best  grasses,  that  they  do  in  northern  latitudes ; 
and  this  is,  no  doubt,  accounted  for  by  the  uniform  signs  of  irritation, 
and  even  erosions  of  the  stomach,  enlarged  spleen,  fatty  liver,  and  some- 
times ecchymosis  in  the  kidneys. 

The  disease  in  its  acute  form  is  characterized  during  life  by  a  long  and 
variable  period  of  incubation,  which  is  most  commonly  of  five  or  six 
weeks'  duration.  Th(^  temi)erature  of  tlie  body  then  rises,  the  secretions 
are  ch('<;ked,  and  indications  of  depression  and  listlessness  are  afforded 
by  droojiing  head,  depressed  ears,  arched  back,  approximation  of  limbs, 
and  indisposition  to  move,  or  to  rise  when  down.  The  freces,  usually  dry, 
are  sometimes  blood-stained ;  and  the  urine  almost  invariably  becomes 


I 


SPLENIC  OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  93 

of  a  dark,  port- wine  color,  is  retained  for  hours,  and  then  evacuated  in 
inconsiderable  quantities.  Frequent  pulse,  hurried  breathing,  and  tre- 
mors are  almost  invariable  symptoms;  and,  according  to  the  severity  of 
the  attack,  tjiere  is  more  or  less  paralysis,  which  either  partially  aiJects 
the  hind  quarters,  or  equally  involves  the  fore.  From  implication  of  the 
lesser  brain  there  is  occasionally  a  defective  co-ordination  of  movement ; 
and,  when  the  brain  proper  is  involved,  the  animal  either  lies  comatose, 

or  is  delirious. 

In  the  first  case  there  is  more  or  less  blindness,  and  in  the  second  a 
wild,  staring  gaze,  and  the  greatest  restlessness.    Animals  recover,  espe- 
cially if  from  the  south ;  but  the  communicated  disorder  among  northern 
stock  is  extremely  fatal;  and,  in  many  forms,  destroys  every  animal 
exposed  to  its  ravages.    Death  usually  occurs  about  the  third  or  the 
fourth  day  from  the  time  the  animal  is  very  obviously  sick;  but  probably 
not  for  ten  or  twelve  days  from  the  first  indications  to  be  obtained  by 
the  thermometer.     The  symptoms  of  approaching  death  are  usually  gTeat 
prostration,  the  animals  lying  and  refusing  to  rise,  retention  of  the  urine, 
the  head  occasionally  drawn  forcibly  round,  especially  to  the  right  side, 
and  the  muscles  of  the  neck  twitching  without  much  intermission.     After 
death  there  is  marked  cadaveric  rigidity ;  the  skin  and  subcutaneous 
tissues  are  usually  sound ;  but  effusions  of  serum,  and  sometimes  of  blood, 
have  been  witnessed  under  the  lower  jaw  and  sternum.     The  respiratory 
organs  are  commonly  healthy,  but  in  some  cases  the  lungs  are  somewhat 
ecchymosed,  and  more  frequently  there  is  partial  interlobular  emphysema. 
The  heart  is  frequently  blood- stained  both  on  the  inner  and  the  outer 
aspects.     The  peritoneum  is  sometimes  ecchymosed,  and,  in  one  instance, 
was  found  to  contain  a  large  amount  of  free,  coagulated  blood.     The 
digestive  organs,  from  the  month  to  the  fourth  stomach,  are,  as  a  rule, 
healthy.     The  fourth  stomach,  or  abomasum,  is,  with  rare  exceptions, 
the  seat  of  distinct  lesions,  viz.,  dark  redness,  ecchymosis,  yellow  gran- 
ular-looking eruptions,  and  erosions  of  the  cardiac  end ;  and  the  pyloric 
end  is  of  more  normal  color,  but  frequently  the  seat  of  extensive  super- 
ficial erosions,  penetrating  the  substance  of  the  mucous  membrane,  to 
which,  wherever  an  abrasion  exists,  food  usually  adheres.     The  small 
intestine  is  generally  the  seat  of  punctiform  or  ramified  redness  through- 
out its  whole  extent;    and  blood  extravasations  are  common  in  the 
caecum,  colon,  and  rectum.     The  liver  is  often  congested,  and  the  gall- 
bladder distended  with  viscid  bile.     The  spleen  is  twice,  three,  or  even 
five  times  its  natural  size ;  and,  according  to  the  duration  and  severity 
of  the  attack,  is  more  or  less  broken  up  and  disintegrated  in  its  inter- 
nal structure.    In  one  case  the  spleen  had  given  away  at  its  base,  and 
hemorrhage  had  taken  place  into  the  peritoneum.    The  kidneys  and  supra- 
renal capsules  are  usually  congested.     The  mucous  membrane  of  the 
urethra,  at  its  origin  iu  the  pelves  of  the  renal  lobules,  is  often  the  seat  of 
extensive  ecchymosis.    The  vuinary  bladder  is  usually  very  much  dis- 
tended with  bloody  urine,  which  never  coagulates  spontaneously,  and 


94  DErARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

only  uiuler  the  action  of  licat  and  nitric  acid.  The  constant  and  path- 
ognomonic lesion  of  tliis  disease  is  the  enlargement  and  even  disintegra- 
tion of  the  spleen,  with  redness  and  erosion  of  the  stomacb.  The  blood 
is  always  more  or  less  aifected,  anaemic,  and  the  functions,  of  nutrition 
disturbed.  In  its  course  in  the  south,  it  resembles  the  periodic  fevers  of 
man ;  is  usually  sub-acute  in  form,  and  varies  in  intensity  at  different 
times. 

The  expression  I  have  proposed  to  designate  tliis  disease  is  splenic 
fever  of  cattle,  from  the  tact  that  the  disease  is  readily  distinguished,  as 
a  rule,  by  the  enlargement  of  this  organ,  coupled,  no  doubt,  with  other 
lesions.  It  is  an  enzootic  disease,  allied  and  corresponding  to  the 
endemic  periodic  fevers  of  man,  for  whicli  the  southern  States  are  re- 
markable; and  it  may  be  deemed  prudent  to  use  a  more  general  expres- 
sion than  splenic  fever,  ^iz.,  tliat  of  periodic  fever  of  cattle.  Splenic 
fever  is  readily  prevented,  in  all  cattle  north  of  the  Gulf  States,  by  pro- 
tectuig  them,  during  the  summer  months,  from  the  pastures  and  roads 
on  which  southern  cattle  have  traveled  and  fed.  The  prevention  of  the 
disease  in  Texas  would  call  for  a  further  and  more  extended  inquiry  into 
all  the  local  causes  in  operation  5  but,  generally  speaking,  the  condition 
of  soils  and  grasses  might  be  altered  by  thorough  cultivation,  drainage, 
deep  plowing,  &c.  In  Texas  I  have  found  that  feeding  on  corn  tends  to 
modify  the  conditions  of  cattle,  and  invigorate  their  constitutions ;  and 
much  may  be  expected  from  tbe  corn -feeding  system  rather  recently  in- 
troduced on  a  comprehensive  scale. 

No  specific  means  of  cure  have  been  discovered  for  the  malady ;  and 
palliative  measures  consist  in  allowing  animals  which  suffer  from  the 
acute  form  of  the  disease,  abundant  mucilaginous  drinks,  neutral  salts, 
and  occasional  diffusible  stimulants.  Animals  have  recovered  when  left 
to  nature,  as  indeed,  also,  when  they  have  been  profusely  bled  and  purged. 

SYMPTOMS. 

Splenic  or  periodic  fever  evidently  occurs  in  two  forms,  and  its  course 
may  be  subdivided  into  four  stages. 

The  first  form  is  an  insidious,  latent,  and  usually  more  fiital  one. 
There  are  few  fevers  that  do  not,  at  times,  attack  animals  in  such  a  way 
as  to  produce  so  little  general  disturbance  as  to  prevent  their  recogni- 
tion in  the  living  animal.  Cases  of  this  description  occur  in  rinderpest. 
I  have  alluded  to  them  in  an  official  report  on  the  lung  plague,  the  con- 
tagious bovine  pleuropneumonia  of  Europe,  and  have  witnessed  them 
in  outl)reaks  of  small-[>ox  in  sheep;  but  in  enzootic  maladies,  and  espe- 
cially in  tiie  various  forms  of  anthrax,  it  is  not  unfre(]uently  found  that 
animals  from  districts  where  such  diseases  arise  indicate,  after  death, 
that  tlu;  liealthiest  and  strongest  have  suffered,  or  are  suffering  organic 
changes  which  a  special  systemic  vigor  or  constitutional  resistance  hides 
80  long  as  the  animal  is  in  life. 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  95 

Whether  we  study  the  malady  as  seen  by  me  in  Texas,  or  on  Saioky 
Hill,  in  Kansas,  where  a  sudden  shook  to  the  system  of  a  steer,  on  the 
occasion  of  its  being  stampeded,  developed  symptoms  and  induced  death; 
or  look  to  the  other  animals,  apparently  fresh  and  grazing,  which  indi- 
cated an  abnormally  high  temperature  of  the  body,  it  is  evident  that  a 
large  herd,  traveling  from  the  region  whence  splenic  fever  is  propagated,, 
carries  not  only  the  active  cause  of  such  propagation  in  the  systems  of 
animals  composing  it,  but  the  evidence  of  specific  disease  induced,  which 
remains  for  an  iudeliuite  time  latent  and  unobserved. 

During  the  early  part  of  our  investigations,  we  could  not  fail  to  be 
forcibly  struck  by  the  apparently  healthy  condition  of  the  vast  herds  of 
Texan  steers  which  had  scattered  a  most  deadly  poison  on  the  pastures 
of  Illinois  and  Indiana ;  and  even  our  dissections  failed,  limited  as  they 
necessarily  were,  to  elicit  the  truth.  But  the  inspection  of  vast  numbers 
of  Texan  cattle  in  Kansas,  and  in  the  Chicago  slaughter-houses,  have 
proved  that  appearances  may  be  very  deceptive ;  and  I  consider  that 
the  abnormal  weights  of  the  spleen  of  southeru  cattle,  coupled,  as  such 
an  indication  is,  with  gastric  redness  and  erosions,,  pale  blood,  and  the 
not  unfrequent  presence  of  bloody  urine  in  the  bladder,  demonstrate  that 
splenic  fever  often,  and  indeed  nsually,  occurs  in  a  latent  form  among 
southern  herds,  which  communicate  the  disease :  and  none  but  a  framed 
expert,  thermometer  and  scalpel  in  hand,  can  declare  positively  that  any 
stock  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  perfect  health. 

We  are  almost  warranted  in  believing  that  the  latent  causes  of  splenic 
fever  are  recognizable  by  the  elevation  of  temperature ;  but  this  is  a 
symptom  of  all  fevers,  and  it  is  only  by  studying  this  condition  in  rela- 
tion to  many  other  circumstances,  such  as  the  source  whence  stock  is 
derived,  the  evidence  of  some  unusual  mortality,  and  the  post-mortem 
indications  of  certain  animals  in  a  herd,  concerning  which  there  may  be 
suspicions,  that  it  is  possible  to  determine  the  presence  of  splenic  fever 
in  its  occult  form. 

The  stages  into  which  any  case  of  splenic  fever  may  be  subdivided, 
but  which  are  readily  recognizable  in  well-developed  instances  of  the 
disease,  are: 

I.  The  incubative  stage. 

II.  The  stage  of  invasion. 

III.  The  congestive  or  bleeding  stage. 

IV.  Termination. 

I.  The  incuhative  stage. — The  stage  of  incubation  has  not  been  satis- 
factorily determined  in  individual  cases ;  that  is  to  say,  it  has  been  im- 
possible, as  yet,  to  obtain  experimental  facts  which,  as  in  the  case  of  rin- 
derpest an<l  variola  ovina,  enable  us  to  state  positively  that,  from  the 
date  of  contamination  of  ar  aninud  by  the  poisou,  so  mauy  days  elapse 
before  the  manifestation  of  the  <lisease,  and  that  such  period  cauuot  be 
prolonged  beyond  a  definite  and  ascertained  limit;  nevertheless  there 
are  important  data  which  indicate  that,  from  the  period  of  arrival  of  a 


96  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Texan  herd  on  any  distant  or  on  any  defined  pasture,  from  five  to  six 
weeks  elapse  before  the  disease  appears  in  the  indigenous  stock,  grazing 
with  or  after  the  southern  cattle.  It  is  proved  that  the  animals  may 
simply  pass  leisurely  over  a  road  or  prairie,  feeding  as  they  move  along, 
and,  without  remaining  for  any  length  of  time  on  any  portion  of  the 
ground  they  traverse,  they  leave  behind  them  sufficient  poison  to  de- 
stroy all  or  nearly  all  the  cattle  which  continue  to  feed  thereon.  In  such 
cases  the  disease  usually  takes  more  th<in  a  month  to  attain  i^s  full  de- 
velopment. There  are  instances  on  record  which  seem  to  indicate  that 
the  incubative  stage  may  be  shorter,  and  we  have  met  with  others  where 
it  was  reported  that  the  disease  appeared  in  a  week  from  the  date  of 
importation  of  Texan  stock ;  but  as  a  rule,  in  such  reports,  the  whole 
facts  are  not  before  us,  and  it  is  not  safe  to  draw  any  conclusions  from 
exceptional  instances.  For  instance,  in  the  monthly  report  of  the  Agri- 
cultural Department  for  April,  1807,  it  is  reported  from  Osage  County, 
Kansas,  that  about  the  1st  of  August,  1866,  the  disease  made  its  appear- 
ance at  Burlingame: 

The  first  that  occurred  was  that  of  an  ox  which  belonged  to  a  logging  team  of  seven 
yoke.  This  ox,  on  account  of  his  breachy  propensities,  was  kept  at  uight  in  a  stable 
and  watered  from  a  well  of  pure  water.  When  not  at  work  in  the  day  time  he  was 
staked  out  to  grass,  with  a  long  rope.  About  two  weeks  before  he  was  attacked  with 
the  disease,  a  herd  of  Texas  cattle  came  along,  and  were  stopped  and  fed  around  him 
for  an  hour  or  more.  Soon  after,  the  rest  of  this  team  were  attacked,  and  all  died  but 
one,  which  escaped  the  disease. 

The  reporter  from  Bates  Comity,  Missouri,  says : 

The  disease  is  never  seen  until  from  ten  days  to  two  weeks  after  the  passing  through 
the  country  of  Spanish  cattle. 

Texan  cattle  commenced  to  arrive  at  Cairo  on  the  23d  of  April,  1868, 
and  the  first  case  concerning  which  we  could  get  reliable  reports 
occurred  on  the  1st  of  June.  At  Tolono  the  largest  body  of  Texan  cat- 
tle arrived  towards  the  end  of  May,  and  the  disease  broke  out  on  the 
27th  of  July.  One  gentleman  of  Tolono  gave  accommodations  on  e  uight 
to  three  hundred  Texan  steers,  on  the  25th  of  June,  and  the  disease 
appeared  among  his  stock  on  the  28th  of  July.  ^At  Farina  two  hundred 
and  fifty  Texan  cattle  were  placed  with  fifty  Illinois  steers  on  the  10th 
of  INIay,  and  the  disease  appeared  among  the  latter  on  or  about  the  15th 
of  July.  Near  Sodorus,  a  farmer  had  his  cattle  grazing  on  prairie  over 
which  Texan  cattle  passed  on  the  1st  of  June,  and  his  stock  com- 
menced to  die  on  the  28th  of  July.  In  Champaign  County  Texan  cattle 
were  placed  on  the  prairie  on  the  15th  of  June,  and  the  indigenous 
stock  began  to  die  on  the  3d  of  August,  twenty  out  of  thirty-eight  head 
dying  in  four  days,  that  is  to  say,  by  August  7,  the  date  of  my  inspec- 
tion. 

Our  experience  agrees  with  the  cases  recorded,  where  dates  are  given 
Avith  some  care.  Thus,  in  the  Agricultural  Report  for  1867,  the  reporter 
from  Oldham  County,  Kentucky,  says: 

Tiie'JUh  <lay  of  .June,  1«(30,  there  were  driven  on   my  farm,  to  stay  ftue  night,  some 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  97 

fifty  head  of  Texas  cattlo.     Some  forty  clays  after  they  left,  about  the  18th  of  August, 
the  disease  broke  out  among  uiy  milch  cows  and  heifers,  and  work  cattle. 

Thus  we  see  that  from  thirty  to  forty  days  usually  elapse  from  the 
placing-  of  Texau  stock  ou  a  pasture  and  the  niauifestation  of  disease  to 
the  stock  owners  of  the  neighborhood. 

The  first  indication  which  attracts  special  attention  is  usually  the 
death  of  a  cow  or  steer.  It  is  evident  that  this  very  imperfectly 
defines  the  length  of  the  incubative  stage,  inasmuch  as  in  all  probability 
the  native  stock  is  not  instantly  poisoned,  and  then  the  disease  is  active 
some  days  before  symptoms,  such  as  an  ordinary  farmer  may  detect,  or 
deaths  occur.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  from  eighteen  to  twenty-five 
days  are  usually  required  for  the  poison  to  exert  any  marked  influence 
on  an  animal's  health,  and  then  the  second  stage  occurs. 

II.  The  period  of  invasion. — My  examination  of  animals  in  apparent 
health,  picked  out  of  a  diseased  herd,  indicates  that  the  invasion  of  the 
malady  is  characterized  by  an  elevation  of  temperature.  Here  we  have 
some  similarity  with  rinderpest ;  but  since  there  is  not  the  same  uni- 
formity in  the  length  of  the  incubative  stage  in  splenic  fever  that  there 
is  in  the  Russian  murrain,  it  is  probably  more  common  to  find  steers 
with  a  normal  temperature  in  a  herd  infected  with  the  first,  than  the 
last  disease. 

The  first  opportunity  I  had  of  testing  this  matter  was  on  the  31st  of 
July,  at  Tolouo,  where  we  saw  the  first  animal  of  a  herd,  a  yearling, 
lying  dead.  I  began  bj^  examining  a  well-bred  short-horn  cow  in  bloom- 
ing condition,  and  found  her  temperature  to  be  10G°  Fahr. ;  second  was 
106.50  Fahr. ;  third  106.7°  Fahr. ;  fourth  106.7°  Fahr. ;  fifth  106.1°  Fahr. ; 
sixth  107.2°  Fahr. ;  seventh  106.7°  Fahr. ;  eighth  107.2°  Fahr. ;  ninth 
104.2°  Fahr.;  tenth  106.7°  Fahr. 

At  Junction  City  I  examined  the  healthiest-looking  animals  of  an 
infected  herd,  and  noted  the  following  temi^eratures  with  one  of  Casel- 
la's  self-registering  thermometers: 

First  104.6°  Fahr.;  second  106.0°  Fahr.;  third  102.8°  P'ahr. ;  fourth 
107.7°  Fahr.;  fifth  103°  Fahr.;  sixth  102.4°  Fahr.;  seventh  105.8° 
Fahr.;  eighth  103.4°  Fahr.;  ninth  107.2°  Fahr.;  tenth  102.2°  Fahr.; 
eleventh  107.8°  Fahr.;  twelfth  102.6°  Fahr.;  thirteenth  103°  Fahr,; 
fourteenth  102.4°  Fahr.;  fifteenth  102.6°  Fahr.;  sixteenth  102.8°  Fahr.; 
seventeenth  102.6°  Fahr, 

I  examined  three  sick  steers  in  this  herd,  and  found  their  temperature 
to  be  respectively  104°  Fahr.,  107.2°  Fahr.,  and  105.8°  Fahr.  Of  the 
api)arenfly  healthy  ones  no  less  than  six  indicated  a  temperature  as 
high  or  higher  than  the  naturally  deceased  aninuds,  and  in  all  the  tem- 
perature was  really  exaltetl. 

On  Smoky  U ill  we  inspected  cattle  in  blooming  health,  so  far  as  exter- 
nal a])i)earaiiccs  would  indicate.  We  had  found  a  case  of  si)lenic  fever 
there,  and  determined  to  have  some  steers  caught  with  the  lasso  and 
examined,  with  the  following  result : 

7 


98  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

First  103.4°  Falir.;  second  102°  Fahr. ;  third  103o  Falir.;  fourth  104.2^- 
Fahr.;  fifth  103°  Fahr. 

The  hist  teiiiiK'ratiire  was  that  of  a  work  ox,  one  wliich  conhl  be  han- 
dled (luietly,  ;iiid  it  afforded  me  an  opportunity  of  noticing"  that  the 
hisso  did  not  seem  sensibly  to  affect  the  t('m[)erature.  I  infer,  from  a 
considerable  range  of  observation,  that  animals  are  from  four  to  six  or 
seven  days  in  the  process  of  sickening,  from  the  earliest  indication  of 
fever  heat  to  the  manifestations  of  decided  symptoms  of  disease. 

III.  The  bleeding  or  congestive  stage. — The  acute  or  active  stage  of  the 
disease  is  characterized  by  a  series  of  well-defined  symptoms  which  last 
for  two,  three,  four,  and  even  six  days. 

GENERAL   APPEARANCE. 

The  ears  of  the  animal  droop,  the  gait  is  sluggish,  and  secretions  some- 
what checked.  In  cows  yielding  milk  there  is  a  sudden  diminution  in 
the  amount  by  one-half,  more  or  less.  At  tirst  the  animal  eats,  rumi- 
nates occasionally,  and  its  paunch  appears  full ;  but  soon  there  is  a  dis- 
position to  lie ;  an«l,  wherever  pools  exist,  the  sick  cattle  are  apt  to  lie  in 
the  water.  It  has  been  said  that  one  of  the  surest  premonitory  signs 
was  a  cough.  This  does  not  accord  with  my  experience.  The  depressed 
head,  drooping  ears,  arched  back,  hollow  flanks,  tendency  to  draw  the 
hind  legs  under  the  belly,  and  knuckling  over  at  the  fetlocks  behind,  are 
early  and  very  marked  symptoms.  The  skin  is  dry  and  rigid ;  the  f;eces 
not  materially  affected  except  in  a  few  cases,  which  show  early  slight 
hemorrhage ;  and  a  small,  delicate  blood-clot  is  apt  to  be  seen  on  tlie 
surface  of  the  droppings.  At  first  the  urine  is  clear.  Many  cases  are, 
it  is  true,  not  observed  till  the  urine  is  bloody;  but  it  remains  of  its 
natural  color  in  probably  ten  or  fifteen  per  cent,  of  the  cases,  and  is  not 
usually  one  of  the  earliest  signs  which  a  veterinarian  can  detect. 

The  visible  mucous  membranes  are  rather  pallid.  I  have  seen  a  turgid 
appearance  of  the  membrane  of  the  nose,  with  discharge  of  glairy 
mucus  ;  but  any  decided  redness  is  usually  confined  to  the  folds  of  the 
rectal  membrane,  seen  when  animals  defecate. 

Tlie  pulse  is  frequent.  In  the  early  stages  it  is  hard  and  wiry.  It 
becomes  more  feeble,  the  artery  is  easily  compressed,  and  in  many 
instances,  as  death  approaches,  it  is  not  possible  to  take  the  pulse  at  the 
jaw.  So  far  as  frequency  is  concerned,  I  have  found  it  to  vary  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  and  twenty,  and  even  more.  In  two  cases,  where  the 
animals  were  lying  with  their  heads  stretched  round  over  the  right 
shoulder,  and  stupefied,  the  pulse  was  quite  imperceptible  at  the  jaw, 
and  the  lieart-beats  numbered  one  liundred  and  twenty. 

Thcrmonu'tric  tests  arc  of  great  value  in  the  active  stage  of  splenic 
fever.  There  is  a  considerable  ditfcrence  between  ditferent  cases  ;  and, 
in  all  i»robability,  this  depends  on  tlie  extent  to  which  blood-extravasa- 
tions occur.     The  temperature  is  high  al  the  commencement  of  the 


SPLENIC    OR   PEEIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 


99 


attack ;  but,  as  deatli  approaches,  and  bloody  urine  flows,  it  is  very  per- 
ceptibly reduced. 
The  annexed  table  indicates  the  ascertained  temperature  of  sixty  cases : 


Fahr. 

Fahr. 

Fahr. 

Fahr. 

Fahr. 

Fahr. 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

104.4 

107.0 

106.1 

107.2 

106.7 

107.2 

103.1 

106.0 

102.5 

105.8 

103.5 

103.8 

98.6 

107.2 

104.9 

104.6 

107.0 

105.0 

106.0 

106.7 

103.  6 

106.  6 

105.  8 

106.0 

102.  5 

104.2 

103. 1 

107.4 

106.7 

106.5 

98.6 

106.7 

106,0 

99.8 

99.0 

104.7 

106.0 

101.3 

101.0 

106.5 

104.8 

107.0 

106.5 

106.7 

106.7 

107.0 

107.4 

105.4 

107.  4 

106.1 

105.  5 

•      104. 4 

103.0 

105.8 

106.7 

100.5 

104.0 

105.0 

104.5 

107.0 

To  the  touch,  the  temperature  of  the  body  varies  much.  It  is  not  at 
all  unusual  to  have  great  heat  of  the  poll,  of  the  ears,  and  horns,  and 
of  the  extremities.  At  other  times  the  limbs,  and  especially  the  hind 
ones,  are  cold;  and  the  general  surface  of  the  body,  which  is  hot  in  the 
earlier  stages  of  the  disease,  has  a  tendency  to  cool  as  death  approaches. 
The  breathing  is  accelerated,  and  sometimes  labored.  In  some  animals, 
with  great  restlessness  and  tendency  to  delirium,  I  have  found  the 
respirations  as  high  as  one  hundred  per  minute;  whereas,  in  comatose 
animals,  they  have  been  slow,  deep,  and  stertorous.  On  an  average* 
however,  the  movements  of  the  flanks  have  indicated  simply  increased 
frequency,  aud  have  amounted  to  sixty  per  minute. 

The  nervous  phenomena  are  often  very  marked.  In  some  the  mus- 
cles of  the  flanks  and  thighs  are  seen  to  be  constantly  trembling.  In 
others  there  is  decided  and  continuous  twitching  of  the  cervical  mus- 
cles. In  nearly  all,  when  an  attempt  is  made  to  walk,  there  is  evidence 
of  feebleness  in  the  hind  limbs,  which  are  rolled  from  side  to  side,  as 
the  animal  staggers  along.  When  lying,  and  wanting  to  rise,  it  is  fonnd 
that  several  efforts  have  to  be  made  before  the  hind  quarters  can  be 
fairly  raised  from  the  ground;  and  then,  in  attempting  to  extend  the 
fore  limbs,  great  difficulty  is  experienced,  and  the  animal  often  sinks  to 
the  ground.  In  one  case,  which  I  saw  near  Tolono,  the  animal  seemed 
fixed  to  the  soil,  from  inability  to  direct  its  muscles.  With  assistance 
it  was  got  up,  but  its  fore  legs  were  propped  out;  and,  when  driven 
along,  the  action  of  its  limbs  was  quite  irregular,  and  the  animal  faltered 
along,  to  drop  again  almost  immediately.  This  inability  to  control  the 
voluntary  muscles,  this  defective  co-ordination  of  movement,  prevails  in 
a  less  degree  in  a  considerable  tuimher  of  cases.  Great  listlessness  and 
even  stupor  are  very  common  indications  of  early  death.  Tlie  most 
singular  numifestatious  of  these  conditions  occurred  in  two  cows.    One 


100  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE, 

was  lying  with  its  bead  forcibly  drawn  onto  the  right  shonlder,  and  the 
cervical  muscles  twitching  as  in  a  severe  attack  of  chorea.  In  another 
the  animal  had  the  same  position  of  the  head,  and  jerking  of  the  muscles; 
but  it  was  lying  motionless  on  its  belly,  with  all  four  legs  sprawling- 
out,  as  if  they  had  yielded  and  slipped  out  without  an  effort,  as  the 
body  sank  to  the  ground.  The  state  of  the  secretions  is  usually  a 
good  index  in  the  course  of  the  disease.  There  is  little  tendency  to  free 
perspiration,  and  the  only  remarkable  change  of  the  skiu  is  oedema, 
which  distends  it  in  some  cases  below  the  jaw,  or  under  the  sternum. 
Hide-bound  and  costive,  the  animals  indicate  the  febrile  crisis  by  slight 
blood-staining  of  the  faeces  and  by  htematuria.  The  latter  is  commonly 
profuse,  until  the  animal  is  so  far  paralyzed  in  its  hind  quarters  that 
there  is  retention. 

With  rare  exceptions,  the  bladder  is  found  distended,  and  weighs, 
with  its  bloody  contents,  ten,  twelve,  or  fourteen  pounds;  this,  too,  just 
after  the  animal  has  urinated  immediately  before  or  in  the  act  of  death. 
Under  the  microscope  the  urine  presents  no  tints,  but  only  amorphous 
dei)osits  of  h;ematin,  and  some  epithelial  cells.  From  first  to  last,  it 
coagulates  by  the  aid  of  heat  and  nitric  acid,  except  in  those  cases 
where  it  retains  its  normal  color. 

The  milk  secretion  is  all  but  entirely  suspended,  aud  the  little  which 
is  drawn  is  dense,  aud  mainly  composed  of  cream.  No  change  of  a 
definite  kind  can  be  detected  by  a  microscope. 

IV.  Termination. — In  the  majority  of  cases  depression  and  listlessness 
increase,  the  pulse  increases  in  frequency,  the  respiration  becomes  labored, 
tl|e  animal  heat  reduced  to  100°  and  to  98°  Fahr.;  and  the  animal 
stretches  out  on  the  ground,  on  which  it  has  been  lying  motionless  for 
some  time,  aiul  dies  without  a  struggle. 

In  exceptional  cases  the  febrile  symptoms  subside,  the  secretion  of 
milk  in  cows  is  restored,  the  color  of  the  urine  becomes  paler  and  paler, 
till  it  is  normal,  and  the  animal  recovers  in  ten  days  or  a  fortnight,  only 
indicating  its  previous  condition  by  a  stiffness  of  gait  and  considerable 
emaciation.  A  month  or  six  weeks  is  required  before  evidence  of 
thriving  is  obtained. 

I  have  seen  animals  in  apparently  a  convalescent  state  and  manifest- 
ing considerable  appetite;  after  distending  their  stomachs  on  grass, 
they  have  appeared  uneasy,  the  fever  has  returned,  diarrhea  set  in, 
and  death  occurred  within  thirty-six  or  forty-eight  hours.  Such  acci- 
dents are  uiuloubtedly  dependent  on  the  lesions  of  the  fourth  stomach 
and  intestines.  They  are  gastroenteric  complications,  and  not  indica- 
tions of  a  true  relapse. 

POST-MOETEM  ArPEARANCES. 

The  structural  lesions  which  occur  in  splenic  fever  are  so  numerous 
and  various,  that  1  (Iccm  it  advisable  to  transcribe  the  notes  of  a  suffi- 
cient mnnber  of  examinations  in  support  of  a  summary,  which  may  be 


SPLENIC    OR   PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 


101 


coiisiclered  siifficicut  for  x^ractical  purposes  by  many  who  may  refer  to 
this  report. 

That  form  of  splenic  fever  which  is  mostly  latent,  and  seen  among 
southern  cattle,  is  not  recognizable  after  death  by  the  condition  of 
skin,  muscular  system,  or,  in  many  cases,  even  by  the  mucous  membrane, 
with  the  exception  of  that  of  the  stomach.  More  or  less,  however,  the 
blood-extravasations,  congestions,  and  blood-stained  urine  have  been 
found;  but  these  would  very  rarely  have  been  noticed  but  for  the  plan, 
suggested  by  me,  of  inspecting  all  slaughtered  cattle  and  carefully  weigh- 
ing the  spleens. 

Dr.  Eauch,  the  medical  officer  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  no  sooner  ascer- 
tained my  wishes  than  he  arranged  for  the  supervision  of  all  slaughter- 
houses in  Chicago ;  and  for  weighing,  in  the  first  instance,  all  the  spleens, 
and,  later,  all  the  livers  as  well  as  spleens  of  slaughtered  cattle.  To  Dr. 
Eauch's  energy  and  care  we  are,  therefore,  indebted  for  facts  which  none 
but  a  medical  officer  of  health,  armed  with  the  necessary  powers,  could 
well  have  obtained.  Inasmuch  as  the  tables  can  only  serve  for  purposes 
of  reference,  it  has  been  thought  proper  to  publish  them  in  an  appendix ; 
but  the  facts  brought  to  light  admit  of  being  readily  stated,  and  it  is  due 
to  Dr.  Eauch  that  I  should  quote  his  report  to  the  board  of  health  of 
Chicago,  read  on  the  18th  of  September,  in  demonstration  of  the  valuable 
conclusions  he  was  enabled  to  show  very  shortlj^  after  adopting  this 
method  of  observation : 

The  weight,  feel,  aud  textiu-e  of  the  spleen  aud  the  couditiou  of  the  urine  have  been 
fonnd  to  be  almost  infallible  in  diagnosing  the  disease.  Since  the  investigation  com- 
menced over  two  thousand  spleens  have  been  weighed.  During  the  first  few  days  of  the 
Investigation  the  spleens  only  were  weighed,  but  as  your  committee  began  better  to 
comprehend  the  importance  of  the  questions  involved,  and  the  value  of  the  facts  to  be 
learned,  the  livers  were  also  ordered  to  be  examined  at  the  same  time.  Of  these  about 
five  hundred  have  already  been  weighed.  The  committee  have  only  had  time  to  present 
the  average  of  the  three  different  kinds  of  cattle  slaughtered  here. 


Aggregate  weight 
Average 


175  native 
spleens. 


Pounds. 
2G0 


175  Texas 
spleens. 


Ponnds. 

441 


175  Cherokee 
(?)  spleens. 


Pounds. 

3B2i 
2.  ]5 


175  native 
livers. 


Pounds. 
o  0071 

12.45 


175  Texan 
livers. 


Pounds. 
2, 1321 
12.15 


175  Cherokee 
(?)  livers. 


Pounds, 
1,  878i 
10.45 


The  above  were  taken  indiscriminately,  and  do  not  include  any  of  the  marked  cases 
that  have  fallen  under  our  observation.  During  the  past  week  spleens  have  been  found 
in  Texas  and  in  Cherokee  cattle  that  were  as  much  disorganized  as  any  that  were  found 
in  the  native  cattle  that  died  from  the  disease.  The  important  part  that  the  spleen 
performs  in  the  economy  of  cattle  will  be  better  appreciated  when  it  is  recollected  that 
its  enlargement  and  disorganization  are  always  present  in  this  disease,  while  the  condi- 
tion of  tlu;  other  organs  may  be  regarded  as  concomitant.  Tin;  liver  was  at  one  time 
Kuppost;d  to  show  evidences  of  enlargement  ••ind  inciea.se  of  weiglit  in  this  disease,  but 
this  does  by  no  means  necessarily  follow,  as  in  some  of  the  most  marked  cases  no  change 
whatever  in  the  size  of  the  liver  was  pcirceptible.  In  fact,  as  a  gencsral  rule,  it  has  heen 
found  that,  whenever  the  animal  was  in  a  good  condition,  the  spleen  weighed  less  and 


102 


DEPAETMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


the  li\(r  iiioi(>  thnn  when  the  opposite  was  the  case.  It  was  also  noticed  that  in  the 
auimals  which  had  been  diiven  or  transported  a  great;  distance  the  spleen  weighed  more 
in  proportion  than  the  liver.  When  the  animal  is  in  good  condition  the  liver  is  largi;; 
when  there  is  a  depressed  or  lower  condition  of  vitality  the  spleen  is  enlarged. 

The  annexed  table  gives  the  results  of  calculations  based  on  the  tables 
in  the  appendix ;  and  it  is  safe  to  draw  conclusions  after  the  careful 
examination  of  no  less  than  4,739  cases.  These  indicate  that  the  average 
weights  of  spleens  are  in  excess  in  southern  cattle  over  those  witnessed 
among  western  steers,  the  excess  amounting  from  half  to  upwards  of  one 
pound.  Many  of  the  Texas  cattle  had  spleens  weighing  over  three  pounds. 
Some  of  the  so-called  Cherokee  cattle  might  be  from  the  Indian  Nation, 
near  the  Texan  frontier,  but  few  were  from  the  Cherokee  Nation,  and 
many,  no  doubt,  from  Texas  itself.  This  will  explain  the  note  of  interro- 
gation I  have  used  wherever  the  term  Cherokee  has  been  used,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  information  that  has  been  tendered  to  me. 

It  is  very  important  to  notice  that  the  earlier  observations  in  Augiist, 
when  the  spleens  alone  were  weighed,  brought  out  a  gi-eater  indication 
of  deviations  from  health  in  the  spleens  of  southern  cattle  than  later  on. 
Thus  the  averages  were — 


In  August  — 
In  September 


Native. 


1.38 
1.45 


Cherokee  (?.) 


1.942 


Texan. 


2.83 
2.531 


It  is  much  to  be  desired  that  the  weights  of  internal  organs  be  better 
determined  in  future  in  all  enzootic  diseases  and  during  all  seasons. 
This  field  of  inquiry  promises  ample  and  valuable  results. 


r-       OD       a> 

0    a    t~ 

.c     a>     ^ 

Native  western 

Cherokee 

(?) 

Texan  cattle. 

General  totals. 

^        X                    if 

cattle. 

cattle. 

Cattle 
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JJ>S. 

Lbs. 

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Lbs. 

Lbs. 

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Lbs. 

Lbs. 

T'l  weight 

of BpleenH. 

375i 

1,44U 

l,963i 

577J 

241 

1,034} 

1,109} 

Gil} 

701 

3, 780} 

1,853.  25  l,679i 

183}  301 J 

530 

AvernKi'.. 

1.4G 

1.423 

1.467 

1.60 

1.  585 

2.345 

2. 259 

2.  377 

2.675 

1.45 

1.942   2.531 

1.38 

2.36 

2.83 

T'l  weight 

of  liverH.. 

2,929 

12,3611 

16, 679i 

3,731 

1,611 

4,702f 

6,070 

360 

3,139 

31, 970} 

10, 0441 

9,569 

Average.. 

11.39 

12. 214 

12. 466 

10. 335 

10.6 

10.06 

12.36 

12.413 

11.98 

12. 263 

10.529'12.236 

SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  10 


9 


The  examination,  after  death,  of  cattle  in  Illinois,  Indiana,  Missouri, 
and  Kansas,  indicates  that  the  usual  post-mortem  appearances,  in  well- 
marked  cases  of  splenic  fever,  are  as  follows : 

The  skin,  very  often  infested  with  ticks,  is  occasionally  seen  studded 
with  dried  drops  of  blood,  as  if  the  animal  had  sweated  blood  in  dying. 
Then  small  blood  clots  have  been  found  freely  distributed  over  the  neck, 
trunk,  and  limbs,  and  especially  between  the  thighs. 

On  removing  the  skin,  blood-extravasations,  or  serous  infiltrations, 
are  sometimes  found  beneath  the  lower  jaw  and  brisket.  The  subcuta- 
neous areolar  tissue,  as  a  rule,  is  pallid  and  not  congested,  as  in  anthrax. 

The  muscular  system  is  normal,  and  I  have  not  l)eeu  able  to  distin- 
guish any  deviation  from  the  common  appearance  of  slaughtered  cattle, 
if  the  animals  are  examined  immediately  after  death. 

The  organs  of  respiration  are,  in  many  instances,  healthy.  The  res- 
piratory passages  are  always  so.  The  lungs,  sometimes  the  seat  of  cada- 
veric congestion,  on  the  side  on  which  the  dead  body  has  been  lying 
are  occasionally  ecchymosed,  and  the  pleura  is  of  a  dark  purplish  color, 
over  distinct  lobules  which  are  found  intensely  congested,  but  never 
hepatized  throughout  their  substance.  It  has  not  occurred  to  me  to  find 
a  single  portion  of  lung  tissue  which  would  not  float  on  water. 

In  nearly  half  the  cases  the  collapse  of  the  lungs,  when  the  chest  is 
opened,  is  imperfect;  and  according  to  the  extent  of  interference  with 
this  collapse  do  we  find  interlobular  emphysema.  The  areolar  tissue 
between  the  lobules  is  blown  up  with  air ;  and  on  the  outer  aspect  of 
the  lung,  especially  on  the  arteries  and  middle  lobes,  a  beaded  and 
streaked  appearance,  owing  to  the  distension  of  the  connective  structure, 
is  striking  and  well  marked.  The  pleume  are  rarely  found  changed; 
but  occasionally,  scattered  over  the  mediastinal  reflections  or  on  the 
diaphragm,  are  well-marked  ecchymoses. 

The  pericardium  is  unusually  empty,  but  I  have  found  it  considerably 
distended  with  bloody  serum.  The  surface  of  the  heart  is  almost  inva- 
riably blood-stained  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  The  most  common  seat 
of  these  ecchymoses  is  on  the  apex,  or  the  auricular  appendages.  In 
the  right  side  a  small  blood  clot  is  very  commonly  found  in  animals  that 
have  been  lying  dead  for  several  hours,  and  the  left  side  is  found 
empty.  Both  ventricles,  and  sometimes  even  the  auricles,  may  be  found 
entirely  ecchymosed ;  but,  as  a  rule,  the  extravasations  are  most  marked 
and  extensive  in  the  left  ventricle,  and  especially  on  the  fleshy  pillars. 

DICfESTIVE   ORGANS. 

The  mouth,  pharynx,  and  cesophagus  are  always  healthy.  The 
rumen  is  usually  full  of  food,  and  its  coats  healthy.  The  mucous  mem- 
brane alone  has  been  found  congested  in  two  cases. 

The  recticnlum,  or  second  stomach,  containing  semi-fluid  material, 
has  been  often  found  reddened  ;  but  especially  in  cows  which  had  swal- 
lowed nails,  wires,  needles,  and  other  foreign  objects,  that  are  so  com- 


104  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

nionly  fouiul  in  tlie  second  .stomach  of  cattle.  In  two  cases  wires  had 
perforated  the  recticuhim  and  diaphragm,  and  in  one  the  pericardium 
"vvas  adherent  to  the  <liai)hragm,  and  injured. 

The  omasum,  or  third  stomach,  is  ahnost  invariably  in  a  normal  con- 
dition; and  whereas  there  are  some  instances  in  Avhich  it  is  consider- 
ably distended,  and  the  food  i^acked  dry  between  the  folds,  there  is 
no  api)reciable  difference  between  the  condition  in  which  we  have  found 
it  iu  our  numerous  dissections,  and  the  state  we  should  expect  to  find  it 
in  a  similar  number  of  healthy  cattle. 

The  abomasum,  or  fourth  stomach,  is  almost  invariably  the  seat  of 
distinct  and  specific  changes.  On  opening  it,  throughout  its  whole  length 
it  is  found  varying  from  a  pink  to  a  deep  blood-red  color  over  its  cardiac 
end.  The  pyloric  end  is  more  commonly  of  a  natural  color.  But 
although  there  is  this  marked  difference  in  the  general  aspect  of  the 
two  sections  of  the  abomasum,  both  present  further  and  very  character- 
istic morbid  appearances.  In  the  cardiac  end,  three  different  forms  of 
lesion  are  seen,  iu  different  cases.  In  some  the  folds,  and  even  the  mem- 
brane between  the  folds,  are  studded  irregularly  with  minute  petechia3 
of  a  <lark,  blood-red  color.  Each  petechia  is  like  a  flea-bite,  though 
somewhat  smaller,  aiul  darker  in  color.  Its  center  is  dark,  and  some- 
times softened  or  perforated.  The  areola  around  this  center  is  well 
defined  and  regular,  offering  a  marked  contrast  to  the  surrounding  mem- 
brane, which,  though  usually  congested  and  reddened,  is  not  of  the  same 
depth  of  color  as  the  petechial  spot.  In  other  cases  the  reddened  folds 
are  studded  with  minute  yellowish-gray  granulations,  due  to  a  change 
iu  the  epithelium,  which  becomes  swollen,  and  has  a  tendency  to  drop 
off.  Each  granulation  does  not  usually  exceed  the  size  of  a  pin's  head. 
This  appearance  is  most  marked  where  the  folds  are  most  congested; 
and  in  some  cases,  where  the  congestion  is  slight,  itrequires  a  somewhat 
careful  inspection  to  recognize  the  presence  of  this  change.  Scattered 
throughout  the  folds,  especially  near  their  free  edges,  we  find  the 
third  change,  which  consists  in  marked  erosions,  as  if  the  epithelium 
had  been  peeled  off"  with  a  sharp  finger  nail. 

The  maigins  of  the  erosion  are  well  defined,  and  of  the  color  of  the 
surrounding  membrane,  or  they  are  often  paler.  The  center  of  each  ero- 
sion is  of  a  blood-red  or  brownish  color. 

It  is  very  rare  to  find  the  pyloric  end,  however  natural  its  general 
aspect,  Avithout  some  well-defined  patch,  off  which  the  epithelium  is  strip- 
ped and  a  dark,  granular  surface  left,  to  which  the  green  food  adheres 
more  or  less  firndy.  On  the  pyloric  gland  this  erosion,  as  freiiuiMitly 
observed,  is  of  a  zigzag  form,  and  toleral)ly  deep  fissures  into  the  mem- 
brane give  to  the  glaiul  a  shrivelled  and  wrinkled  appearance. 

I  have  seen  nearly  the  whole  of  the  mucous  surface  in  the  i)yloric 
antrum  eroded  ;  but  more  commonly  there  are  three,  four,  or  more  iso- 
lat(id  patches,  varying  from  half  an  inch  to  even  two  inches  in  diameter. 

The  duodenum  is  often  of  a  deep  red   color.     Sometimes  its  mucous 


SPLENIC    OE    PEMODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  1C5 

membrane  is  deeply  tinged  with  bile.  At  others  it  is  tlie  seat  of  scat- 
tered eccliymoses,  less  nnmerous  and  regular  than  those  on  the  folds  of 
the  abomasum. 

The  jejunum  and  ileum  may  be  reddened  throughout  on  their  mucous 
surface.  Sometimes  the  redness  is  in  patches.  It  is  punctiform  ;  and, 
in  parts,  eccliymoses  heighten  the  general  color.  In  one  case  I  found  oiie 
of  Peyer's  glands  somewhat  tumefied,  but  free  from  any  dei)osit  around, 
and  simply  turgid  and  congested.  The  caicum  is  often  extensively  ecchy- 
mosed,  especially  on  the  free  margin  of  the  effaceable  mucous  folds,  so 
that,  when  the  membrane  is  stretched,  it  has  a  striped  appearance.  The 
stripes  may  be  of  a  bright  or  rusty-red  color,  but  are  often  blackened,  as 
we  so  commonly  find,  with  blood  extravasions  in  the  large  intestine  of 
cattle.  The  ileo-colic  fold  is  usually  ecchymosed,  tumefied,  or  of  a  black- 
ish color.  Scattered  i^etechia^.  are  not  uncommon,  and  the  fundus  of  the 
cfBCum  may  be  found  the  seat  of  marked,  ramified  redness.  The  general 
appearance  of  the  mucous  lining  of  the  colon  is  often  the  same.  In  the 
rectum  the  folds  are  commonly  ecchymosed,  and  we  have  found  free  but 
delicate  clots  adherent  to  the  membrane.  The  blackened  appearance  of 
the  interstitial  extravasations  is  nearly  as  common  m  the  rectum  as  in  the 
cpecum. 

The  liver,  so  often  the  seat  of  chronic  lesion  in  cattle,  such  as  thicken- 
ing and  induration  of  the  capsule  in  spots,  is  often  the  seat  of  fatty  de- 
generations, and  is  found  congested  and  lieavy  in  some  cases  ;  whereas 
the  reverse  holds  good  in  others.  Eeference  to  the  weights  of  the  livers 
will  show  that  there  is  no  relation  between  any  distinct  state  of  the  organ, 
as  ascertained  by  the  sealer,  and  the  existence  of  splenic  fever. 

The  gall  bladder  is  usually  distended  with  viscid  bile,  and  its  lining 
membrane  is  at  times  the  seat  of  ramified  redness.  The  coats  of  the  gall 
bladder  have  been  found,  in  several  cases,  much  thickened  by  intersti- 
tial, serous  infiltration,  which,  from  being  retained  in  the  areolae  of  the 
connective  tissue,  had  the  appearance  of  a  gelatinous  mass. 

The  spleen  is  uniformly  eidarged,  as  indicated  by  the  many  observa- 
tions noted  in  the  tables  published  in  the  appendix.  The  weight  varies 
from  two  to  ten  i)ounds.  It  rarely  exceeds  six  or  seven.  One  of  the 
largest  Texan  sj^leens,  weighing  eiglit  pounds,  and  found  by  one  of  Dr. 
Kauch's  inspectors  in  a  slaughtered  animal,  measured  twenty-seven  inches 
in  length,  seven  and  one-half  inches  in  width,  and  three  inches  in  thick- 
ness at  its  thickest  point. 

The  spleen  is  of  a  iiurplish  color,  its  peritoneal  surface  sometimes 
ecchymosed ;  and,  on  making  an  incision  into  its  capsule,  the  pulp  oozes 
out.  A  section  shows  the  complete  efi'usement  of  the  usual  granular 
look,  due  to  the  very  marked  M;d[)igliian  bodies,  so  well  seen  in  the  ox's 
spleen.  The  scraping  with  a  kniie  readily  forces  out  the  currant-jelly- 
like pulp,  and  leaves  the  trabecuhe  free  and  clear.  In  thirty  well-marked 
diseased  spleens,  Ur.  Mannheimes  found  only  two  in  which  the  trabe- 
cuLiB  were  firm  and  sound.  They  were  destroyed  and  completely  unrecog- 
nizable from  any  other  part  of  the  tissues  of  the  organ. 


106  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

URINARY  ORGANS. 

The  kidneys  may  be  perfectly  healthy,  but  are  most  commonly  of  a 
dark  brownish -red  color,  from  intense  congestion.  The  pelvis  of  each  may 
be  normal ;  but,  in  the  earliest  staijes,  I  have  found  linear  interstitial 
blood  dejtosits  in  the  mucous  meiubrane.  At  first  these  are  of  a  bright 
arterial  hue,  but  they  become  more  extensive  and  dark  in  color  as  the 
disease  advances.  Whenever  there  is  bloody  urine  in  the  bladder,  the 
jjelvis  of  each  kidney  contains  some  of  the  same.  In  one  case  I  found 
one  of  the  lobes  of  the  right  kidney  fluctuating  on  pressure,  and,  when 
opened,  it  was  found  to  contain  a  cyst,  distended  by  a  couple  of  ounces 
of  dark,  bloody  urine.  In  the  majority  of  cases  the  urinary  bladder  is 
found  very  much  distended  with  blood-colored  urine.  Its  mucous  sur- 
face may  be  normal  and  pallid,  but  is  sometimes  congested ;  and,  in 
several  cases,  I  have  found  it  studded  with  very  minute  ecchymoses, 
which  have  existed  either  in  the  fundus  or  at  the  cervix,  or  have  been 
thickly  disseminated  over  the  whole  of  the  internal  lining.  The  organs 
of  generation  are  found  healthy,  and  cows  with  calf  have  always  re- 
tained the  foetus,  whether  it  was  a  few  days  or  several  weeks  old.  In 
one  case  I  found  the  peritoneal  surface  of  the  womb  studded  with  ecchy- 
moses precisely  similar  to  those  seen  on  the  internal  surface  of  the  blad- 
der ,  and  in  another,  the  broad  ligaments  of  the  uterus  had  a  marked 
ai^pearance  of  the  same  description. 

NERVOUS   SYSTEM. 

In  all  the  cases  in  which  partial  paralysis  of  the  hind  quarters  alone 
was  marked,  we  found  the  upper  cornua  of  the  gray  matter  in  the  lum- 
bar region  reddened;  and  the  microscopical  examination  showed  blood- 
extravasations  and  staining  of  the  nerve  cells.  This  appearance  could 
be  traced  in  all  parts  of  the  cord,  in  cases  of  more  general  paralysis;  and, 
in  one  instance  in  which  it  was  most  general  and  marked,  there  was 
blood-extravasation  outside  the  dura  mater,  beneath  the  medulla  oblong- 
ata. The  gray  matter  of  the  medulla  was  itself  slightlj'  blood-stained. 
On  opening  the  cranium,  in  one  instance,  we  found  the  inner  surface  of 
the  dura  mater  studded  with  bright  red  spots,  similar  to  the  small  ecchy- 
moses seen  in  the  urinary  bladder ;  and  the  spots  were  distributed  over 
the  whole  of  the  cranial  surface.  The  pia  mater  is  often  congested,  and 
the  gray  matter  of  the  cerebrum  and  the  cerebellum  often  reddened.  The 
puncta  vasculosa,  in  the  oval  centers,  are  very  marked ;  and  the  lateral 
ventricles,  in  one  case,  contained  a  little  reddish-colored  serum.  Beyond 
this  tendency  to  congestion  and  occasional  blood-extravasation,  no  lesion 
was  discovered  in  the  nervous  system ;  and  both  white  and  gray  matter 
was  usually  firm  and  not  softened. 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  107 

CAUSES  AND  l^ATURE  OF  THE  DISEASE. 

In  those  parts  where  the  splenic  or  periodic  fever  of  cattle  is  enzootic, 
the  prevailing  inflnences  are  such  as  favor  the  development  of  intermit- 
tent disease  in  man.  There  are  parts  more  healthy  than  others ;  and 
the  beneficial  effects  of  constant  winds,  a  dry  soil,  adequate  elevation, 
and  the  introduction  of  good  systems  of  culture,  tend  to  make  many 
regions  in  the  vast  countries  over  which  malarious  conditions  prevail 
favorable  for  the  healtli  and  prosperity  of  man.  In  the  most  swampy 
parts  those  diseases  annually  recur  with  the  intense  heat  of  summer 
which  are  known  to  characterize  low  and  unhealthy  lands  in  all  parts  of 
the  world,  and  these  often  persist  even  in  the  winter  season.  The  bilious 
remittent  and  intermittent  fevers  in  man  are  represented  in  animals  by 
the  deadly  charbon  or  anthrax,  the  black  tongue  of  domestic  and  wild 
ruminants,  as  also  by  a  marked  form  of  the  splenic  fever  which  I  am 
describing. 

Texas  and  Florida  have  been  chosen  as  resorts  for  invalids— for  con- 
sumptive people  during  the  winter.  They  are  considered  so  healthy 
countries,  that  to  cast  a  doubt  over  the  salubrity  of  Texas  might  lead 
any  one  into  difficulties  in  that  State.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  of  the 
State  that  its  acclimatized  inhabitants  prefer  to  live  there  rather  than 
choose  what  might  be  viewed  as  a  healthier  climate  further  north.  But 
it  is  impossible  for  an  unprejudiced  stranger  traveling  through  the  State 
not  to  observe  the  usual  spare  habit  of  body,  the  sallow,  yellowish  com- 
plexion, and  the  want  of  activity  that  prevail  among  the  inhabitants. 
There  are  exceptions  and  exceptional  spots ;  but  any  one  traveling  from 
Maine  to  Texas  can  satisfy  himself  that  some  condition,  whether  of  soil 
or  climate,  is  untavorable  to  the  health  of  man. 

I  had  not  anticipated  witnessing  the  universal  indication  of  a  low 
standard  of  health  in  animals.  Texans  pride  themselves  on  their  herds 
of  beeves,  on  the  size  cattle  often  attain,  on  the  masses  of  fat  rolling 
over  the  bones  aud  muscles  of  steers  fed  only  on  mesquite,  and  they 
look  on  Texas  as  a  center  whence  the  world  may  be  supplied  with  beeves. 

There  is  every  reason  for  believing  that  Texas  must  remain  one  of  the 
greatest,  if  not  the  greatest,  cattle-growing  State  of  the  Union.  But  its 
progress  and  prosperity  demand  that  farmers  should  be  informed  of  the 
conditions  whicli  are  ever  in  operation  against  them,  and  they  will 
doubtless  bring  their  intelligence  aud  industry  to  bear  in  correcting  evils 
that  are  far  from  imaginary. 

Inquiries  as  to  the  diseases  of  Texan  cattle  in  Texas  are  almost  always 
met  by  people  of  that  State  by  the  declaration  that  cattle  are  never  sick 
there; — yet  a  "  norther"  may  sweep  down  and  drive  the  cattle  onto  a 
narrow  neck  of  land,  wliere  they  have  to  starve  at  times  for  want  of 
food;  drought,  as  in  1  SOI,  sometimes  destroys  thousands;  whih»  in  the 
winter  excessive  wet  destioys  the  grasses,  favors  diarrhea,  and  unless 
the    cattle  can   get   in   the  woods  and  eat   some   swamp   moss,  wild 


108  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

onions,  or  otlicr  prodncts  of  the  river  bottoms  tliey  must  occasionally 
succunib. 

The  chise  of  ISOS  and  beginniny-  of  ISOO  have  been  remarkable  for  an 
excessive  amount  of  rain.  CattUi  liave  suffered  largely,  and  on  all 
the  sedj^e  grass  lauds  along  the  Brazos  starvation  has  been  uncommon. 
Farther  west,  on  the  mesquite,  not  far  from  Ci)r[)ns  Ohristi,  &c.,  cattle 
have  been  in  fair  condition ;  but  some  idea  of  the  scarcity  of  really  fat 
cattle  during-  the  winter  months  may  be  obtained  from  the  fiict  that,  at 
Indianohi,  cattle  for  New  Orleans  market  could  not  be  had  under  twenty 
dollars  in  gold.  We  hear  so  much  of  cattle  being  worth  oidy  a  few  dol- 
lars a  head  in  summer,  and  ])eople  killing  them  by  the  thousand  for 
their  hides  and  tallow,  that  the  only  reason  to  be  given  for  heavy  win- 
ter prices  is  the  scarcity  of  really  fat  stock,  ami  the  great  distance  it 
has  to  be  driven,  even  to  such  a  port  as  Indianola. 

I  have  seen  many  large  herds  of  Texan  cattle  that  had  been  wintered 
in  Illinois,  Indiana,  or  Missouri,  and  have  made  myself  acquainted  with 
the  average  run  of  weights  of  cattle  in  Texas,  and  one  most  important 
fact  appears,  viz.,  that  a  Texan  steer  will  increase  in  twelve  months,  on 
the  grasses  of  a  more  northern  latitude  than  those  of  his  native  State, 
by  one,  two,  and  three  hundred  pounds  over  and  above  the  highest 
weight  he  will  ever  attain  in  Texas.  Let  us  take  the  cattle  fed  on  the 
mesquite,  said  to  be  fat  all  the  year  round — and  where,  therefore,  an 
animal  has  not  to  make  up  for  lost  condition — and  age  for  age,  it  will 
take  three  of  them  to  weigh  down  the  Illinois  steer,  and  probably  four. 
I  take  the  best  and  the  average,  and  it  will  be  found,  on  careful  exami- 
nation, that  the  cattle  on  the  noted  grasses  of  Texas,  whether  from  the 
soil,  heat,  water,  or  other  cause,  do  not  attain  the  weight  and  condition 
that  the  same  cattle  do  if  removed  to  the  north,  nor  that  northern  or 
western  cattle  do  on  their  own  native  prairies. 

Texans  are  finding  this  out;  and,  much  to  their  credit,  they  are  intro- 
ducing a  system  of  corn-feeding  that  gives  them  cattle  that  can  compete 
in  western  markets  with  other  corn-fed  cattle.  They  can,  it  is  true,  show 
us  some  prodigies  off  mesquite  grouuds,  but  the  average  run  of  grass- 
fed  catthi  in  Texas  might  be  improved  enormously  by  attention  to  the 
subjects  of  breeding,  shelter,  artificial  feeding,  &c. 

What  are  the  active  causes  in  operation,  which  tend  to  influence  pre- 
judicially the  stamina  of  southern  herds?  Trav^eling  over  the  prairies, 
no  one  can  fail  to  be  struck  by  the  large  number  of  dead  animals  to  be 
met  with.  The  dissection  of  these,  or  the  slaughter  and  dissection  of 
the  first  animal  jnet  with,  reveals  three  distinct  and  unfavorable  man  i- 
festations.  The  spleen  is  enlarged;  the  animals  have,  without  exception, 
the  "ague  cake" — the  stamp  of  a  malarioU'i  district;  the  liver  is  fatty, 
and  this  is  a  lesion  that  miglit  bo  autiiapated  in  so  warm  a  country  ;  the 
true  stomach  is  reddened  at  its  left  end,  the  membrane  is  eroded,  or  ap- 
pears scratched  wiili  a  sliarpnail  on  its  folds,  and  although  there  maybe 
only  a  single  and  small  erosion,  nevertheless  the  trace  of  gastric  disor- 


SPLENIC    OK    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  109 

der  is  there.  I  Lave  not  fiiiled  in  a  single  instance  in  Texas  to  trace 
this,  and  I  have  opened  as  many  as  twenty-six  animals  per  day,  weigh- 
ing their  organs  carefully,  and  watching  closely  for  these  sigas.  Some^ 
times  the  scars  of  old  ulcers  are  more  marked  than  the  erosions  on  the 
mucous  folds,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find  there  tracer  of  ancient 
lesions  about  the  pylorus,  or  intestinal  opening. 

My  observations  extend  further.  From  the  earliest  age  that  the  calf 
feeds  on  grass,  to  the  oldest  that  a  bullock  attains,  the  moibid  lesions 
alluded  to  are  found.  They  grow  better  and  worse,  and,  in  dissecting 
a  dozen  animals,  one  or  two  will  be  found  to  have  blood  extravasations, 
of  a  very  limited  and  delicate  character,  in  the  pelvis  of  the  kidney,  in 
the  urinary  bladder,  and  in  the  intestinal  mucous  membrane.  During 
the  summer,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  more  than  at  any  other  season,  a  few 
bullocks  in  a  herd  may  be  seen  to  droop  behind,  and  void  bloody  urine. 
Mr.  Louis  Brandt,  now  a  practicing  veterinarian  in  I^ew  York,  and  who 
lived  twelve  years  in  Texas,  ofteu  witnessed  these  symptoms  ;  and  per- 
sons engaged  in  shipping  large  quantities  of  cattle  throughout  the  year, 
have  told  me  that  they  have  at  times  seen  the  symptoms. 

It  is  difficult  to  get  at  the  truth ;  but  from  personal  observation,  and  very 
careful  and  numerous  inquiries,  I  am  in  a  position  to  state  that  almost 
if  not  quite  universally  in  the  States  bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  for  a  distance  of  at  least  two  or  three  hundred  miles  inland,  the 
cattle  do  not  attain  the  full  weight  they  can  and  do  reach  elsewhere ; 
that  they  very  commonly  appear  in  blooming  health,  and  are  usually  free 
from  acute  and  marked  symptoms  of  any  disease ;  that,  nevertheless, 
these  animals  are  usually  more  an.nemic  and  less  firm  than  northern  cat- 
tle, and  that,  without  exception,  all  of  them  that  I  have  dissected  have 
shown  the  spleen  enlarged  to  twice  or  thrice  its  usual  weight,  the  liver 
slightly  or  very  fatty,  and  the  true  stomach  reddened  and  eroded.  The 
removal  of  these  animals  to  a  northern  State  results,  especially  as  Avinter 
approaches,  in  a  diminished  size  of  spleen,  a  great  deposit  of  fat  and 
development  of  blood  and  muscle,  and  the  cicatrization  of  the  gastric 
lesions. 

Side  by  side  with  observations  made  by  me  in  Texas,  on  the  bodies  of 
animals  that  had  died,  and  on  others  slaughtered  in  apparent  health, 
must  be  placed  Mr.  Tiavenel's  researches  in  relation  to  the  cryptogamic 
origin  of  the  disease.  I  do  not  wish  to  forestall  his  observations,  or  the 
report  of  Doctors  Billings  and  Curtis,  but  certainly  it  appeared  that  the 
grasses  which  the  animals  ate  had  a  healthy  aspect,  were  not  infected  by 
parasitic  plants,  and  could  not,  on  a  casual  observation,  be  recognized 
as  presenting  any  peculiar  character  that  might  account  for  the  ill  health 
of  animals  eating  tliem. 

Conjecture  is  not  always  profitable,  and  fs  yet  it  is  impossible  to  say 
more  with  certainty  than  that,  in  a  warm  country,  where  a  rich  and  re- 
tentive soil  is  ever  charged  with  considerable  moisture,  and  where  arti- 
ficial systems  of  culture  are  in  their  infancy,  a  general  low  tone  of  sys- 


110  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGKICULTURE. 

tern  prevails,  which  luanifests  itself  in  the  shape  of  an  imperfect  devel- 
opment of  blood,  an  enlargement  of  blood  glands,  and  very  significant 
lesions  of  the  stomach  and  liver. 

Descrii)fionsof  the  Texan  fever,  wliich  have  been  pul)lished  for  years 
past,  all  agree  that  the  Texan  and  also  Florida  cattle,  which  have  cansed 
so  mnch  mischief,  appear  themselves  to  be  in  perfect  health ;  and  the 
thriving  condition  of  many  herds  in  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missonri,  and 
Kansas  tended,  at  first,  to  convince  us  that  whatever  injured  the  im- 
jjroved  breeds  indigenous  to  these  States  had  no  effect  on  the  natives  of 
the  country',  the  long-horned  Texan  cattle.  It  is  true  that  at  Cairo  we 
were  informed,  by  a  gentleman  whose  statement  we  had  no  reason  to 
doubt,  that  he  had  seen  many  Texan  cattle  die  in  the  railway  pens;  and 
as  many  as  nine  or  ten  in  one  morning  had  been  found  dead,  having,  in 
his  o])ini()n,  succumbed  to  the  same  disease  as  that  destroying  the  cows 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Cairo.  He  s.upplied  the  hay  for  all  the  cattle  landed 
there,  and  about  the  first  lots,  landed  in  April,  appeared  sound ;  but  he 
afterwards  saw  three  or  four  lots,  numbering  from  two  hundred  and  fifty 
to  five  hundred  head,  which  were  aft'ected  by  the  prevailing  disease.  He 
distinctl}^  avers  that  six,  eight,  and  even  ten  head  of  dead  cattle  were 
hauled  off  the  boats  when  they  arrived  laden  with  stock,  and  the  men 
in  charge  got  medicine  for  the  disease.  One  lot  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  animals,  referred  to  by  this  informant,  was  taken  off  the  cars  at 
Farina,  after  leaving  Cairo  for  the  north,  simply  because  they  were  suf- 
fering severely,  and  it  was  supposed  that  this  arose  from  the  journey; 
but  they  communicated  disease  to  all  the  cattle  that  fed  in  their  path, 
and  killed  forty-seven  out  of  fifty  Illinois  cattle  with  which  they  grazed, 
from  the  10th  of  May  to  the  middle  of  June. 

In  opposition  to  hearsay  evidence,  it  was  my  duty  to  examine  cattle 
alive  and  those  which  were  dead.  I  saw  sixty-four  Texan  steers,  fresh 
from  New  Orleans,  which  were  unloaded  at  Cairo,  on  the  1st  of  August. 
They  all  appeared  healthy.  We  had  previously  seen  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  the  same  kind  of  stock  without  being  able  to  detect  the  slightest 
evidence  of  disease ;  and  were  happy  to  receive  an  invitation  to  visit 
Mr.  Alexander's  farm,  at  Brondlands,  near  Homer,  where  there  were  four 
thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty-seven  Texan  steers,  which  had  been 
driven  to  Brondlands,  and  had  communicated  disease  not  only  to  the  cat- 
tle feeding  on  their  trail,  but  also  to  a  herd  of  Illinois  cattle,  Avith  which 
they  were  mixed  in  reaching  their  destination. 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 


Ill 


The  numhers  and  dates  relating  to  the  several  importations  at  Brondlands 

are  as  follotvs  : 


Purchased  at — 

Date  of  arrival  at  Brondlands. 

No. 

Tolono 

May   31,  1868 

499 

Tolono 

June    2,  1868... 

228 

Tolouo 

June  18,  1868 

496 

Tolono 

June  20,  1868 

349 

Abeline 

June  25,  1868 

537 

Tolono 

June  26,  1868 

140 

Tolono 

June  30,  1868 

107 

Abeline 

July     2,1868 

248 

Abeline 

July     3,1868 

241 

Chicago 

July     4,  1868 

195 

Tolono 

July  22,  1868 

362 

Tolono 

July  25,  1868 

611 

Tolono 

July  28,  1868 

514 

4,  527 

Up  to  the  12th  of  September,  the  date  of  a  letter  from  Brondlands, 
thirty-one  of  the  animals  had  died,  "most  if  not  all  of  them  from  inju- 
ries received  in  transit."  Out  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-seven animals  driven  or  transported  in  steamers  and  on  railroads, 
considering-  the  great  distances  these  had  to  travel,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
some  should  die;  and  all  which  we  examined  alive  api)eared  healthy 
and  thriving.  That  they  communicated  disease  to  a  very  serious  extent 
is  proved  beyond  doubt;  and  it  would  have  been  important  to  deter- 
mine, by  the  slaughter  of  many,  their  real  condition. 

On  the  Cth  of  August  I  visited  Brondlands  a  second  time,  for  the 
purjiose  of  dissecting  a  Texan  steer  which  the  i:)eople  of  the  neighbor- 
hood believed  would  show  signs  of  the  disease.  We  inspected  the  herds 
generally,  which  still  looked  in  perfect  health,  but  one  of  the  imported 
cattle  was  reported  ill  and  dying.  He  had  reached  the  farm  about  the 
middle  of  July,  and  had  not  thriven  well.  It  was,  as  usual,  supposed 
that  he  had  sustained  injuries  on  the  journey.  When  I  saw  this  animal 
alive,  he  was  lying  down,  with  his  head  stretched  on  the  ground;  imper- 
ceptible pulse  at  the  jaw,  great  listlessness  and  prostration,  but  pre- 
senting no  distinctive  symptoms  of  splenic  fever.  After  death  1  fouTid 
that  there  was  an  efiiision  of  bloody  serum  uiuler  the  jaw.  The  organs 
of  respiration  were  healthy,  and  the  lieart  sound.  The  whole  of  the 
stomach  and  the  intestines  were  normal;  as  also  the  liver,  gall  bladder, 
and  spleen.  The  kidneys  and  bladder  exhibited  no  signs  of  blood 
extravasations,  or  alteration  in  the  urine,  such  as  is  seen  in  splenic 
fever.  From  the  general  emaciation  of  the  body,  and  the  absence  of 
any  lesion  of  disease,  it  was  evident  to  me  that  this  animal  had  died  of 


112  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

hoctie;  or,  in  other  Avoids,  of  the  ill  effects  of  prolonged  starvation  and 
ill  usage,  which  had  permanently  arrested  the  functions  of  assimilation. 
The  Texan  cattle  were  intermixed  in  the  i»astnres  of  Brondlands  witli 
about  six  hundred  native  animals.  All  but  two  hundred  and  eighty  of 
these  were  soon  sent  to  eastern  markets,  and  those  which  remained  with 
them  began  to  die  on  the  2Gth  of  July.  They  were  then  phujed  on  green 
corn;  but  they  continued  to  sicken  and  succumb  to  the  disease,  until 
one  hundred  and  ninety-eight  of  all  kinds,  including  an  old  yoke  of 
Texan  steers  which  had  been  some  time  on  the  farm,  had  been  buried. 
At  the  time  of  my  visit,  the  mortality  was  raging  at  its  highest  point, 
and  men  were  busy,  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  skinning,  digging  graves, 
and  burying.  Infornuition  afterwards  received  was  that  one  hundred 
and  fifty  of  the  cattle  sent  to  New  York  died  before  they  arrived  there, 
and  the  rest  were  sent  to  the  rendering  tanks. 

Colonel  Sullivan,  of  Twin  Grove,  Vermillion  County,  111.,  purchased 
five  hundred  Texan  steers  at  Cairo,  on  the  24th  of  May.  They  remained 
healthy,  but  communicated  disease  to  forty  Illinois  steers  and  twenty 
heifers  and  cows.  The  disease  appeared  at  Twin  Grove  on  Tuesday, 
the  2Sth  of  July.  Of  the  Texan  steers  three  have  died  as  the  result  of 
accident.  The  next  group  of  southern  cattle,  which  came  under  special 
observation,  was  that  of  J.  A.  Harris,  near  Champaign.  He  had  eightj'- 
five  head  of  southern  cattle,  purchased  last  fall.  There  were  with 
them  thirty-eight  Illinois  steers,  and  this  herd  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-three  had  grazed  together  the  entire  season.  On  the  15th  of 
July  they  were  placed  on  pasture  over  which  a  herd  of  Texans  had 
been  driven  on  the  15th  of  June.  On  the  3d  of  August  the  Illinois 
began  to  die;  and,  in  four  days,  twenty  out  of  the  thirty-eight  were 
buried.     The  eighty-five  southern  cattle  remained  in  perfect  health. 

Tliis  special  immunity  of  the  cattle  imported  from  the  south  indicated 
that  they  had  overcome  the  influences  which  operate,  however  mildly, 
to  the  prejudice  of  their  health  in  the  south. 

On  the  13th  of  August  we  visited  Hickory  Grove,  near  Oxford,  Indi- 
ana. There  were  there  one  thousand  animals,  which  had  been  imported 
in  the  fall  of  1807,  and  had  caused  no  disease  either  in  transit  or  on  the 
farm.  On  the  1st  of  June,  18()8,  two  hundred  and  sixteen  head  Avere 
purchased,  which  came  from  New  Orleans  and  Memphis ;  and,  on  the 
12th  of  July  and  the  8th  of  August,  two  separate  droves  of  one  thousand 
head  were  taken  on  the  farm  from  Tolono,  The  condition  of  the  whole 
of  this  stock  Avas  as  perfect  as  any  grazier  could  desire.  Many  of  them 
Avere  quite  fit  for  the  butcher;  and  those  ])iir('hiised  lastAA^ere  in  a  thriA'- 
ing  condition.  Tiie  last  two  droA'es  communicated  disease  on  their  trail ; 
but,  being  by  themselves  at  Hickory  Grove,  had  no  opportunity  of 
inflicting  any  damage. 

At  Parish  Grove,  adjoining  the  last  named  fiirm,  a  herd  of  about  fiA^e 
hundred  Texan  cattle  had  just  been  imported  from  Tolono.  It  Avas  said 
that  the  cattle,  on  their  Avay  from  Paxton  to  Hickory  GroA^e,  in  July, 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  113 

referred  to  above,  had  crossed  the  prairie  in  wliich  the  Parish  Grove,  ' 
Illinois,  cattle,  numbering  five  hundred,  had  grazed.  Within  seven  or 
eight  days  after  the  last  herd  of  five  hundred  cattle  had  reached  Parish 
Grove  from  Tolono,  the  Illinois  cattle  began  to  die.  Fifteen  car  loads 
of  these  had  just  been  sent  by  rail  to  Chicago ;  and,  of  the  remaining 
number,  few  survived.  I  inspected  four  sick  steers,  and  it  was  evident 
that  the  malady  would  destroy  nearly  all  the  Illinois  stock.  On  an 
adjoining  farm  Mr.  Edward  Sumner  had  nearly  one  thousand  head  of 
northern  cattle,  among  Avhich  the  disease  had  appeared. 

On  the  lith  of  August  we  visited  Mr.  Joseph  Heath's  farm,  near 
Oxford,  Indiana,  and  found  there  one  thousand  one  hundred  Texan  cat- 
tle which  had  been  purchased  at  ISTew  Orleans  and  Tolono.  These  had 
communicated  disease  over  the  road  they  had  passed,  and  Mr.  Heath's 
native  stock,  numbering  seventy  or  eighty,  were  dying  fast-  We  exam- 
ined three  alive,  and  dissected  two,  showing  all  the  indications  of  splenic 
fever. 

On  the  next  day,  at  Eeynolds,  we  visited  a  herd  of  over  two  hundred 
Texan  steers,  which  had  arrived  on  the  27th  of  May;  and  disease 
appeared  at  Reynolds  the  beginning  of  June.  One  car  load  of  the  ani- 
mals was  unloaded  at  Chalmers,  and  driven  onto  J.  M.  Bunnell's  pasture, 
at  Reynolds.  Thej^  remained  there  only  two  days ;  but,  five  weeks  after- 
wards, the  disease  appeared,  and  killed  the  whole  of  Mr.  Bunnell's  stock, 
amounting  to  eighteen  head  or  thereabout.  The  bulk  of  the  Texan  cat- 
tle were  sent  to  Kenton's  i)asture,  three  miles  from  Reynolds,  where  they 
were  mixed  with  seventy-three  head  of  native  cattle.  Of  these,  at  the 
time  of  our  visit,  from  fifty-five  to  sixty  had  already  died,  and  others 
were  sick.  Cattle  on  the  west  side  of  the  track  at  Reynolds  were  safe ; 
but  cattle  east,  between  the  station  and  Kenton's  pasture,  had  died. 

It  is  worthy  of  special  mentiou  here  that,  for  the  first  time,  the  trans- 
I)ortation  of  Texan  cattle  was  established  in  1868  from  New  Orleans,  by 
steamboats  up  the  Mississippi  to  Cairo;  and  thence,  via  the  Illinois  Central 
road,  to  the  pastures  of  Illinois  and  Indiana,  having  heretofore  been  sent, 
since  the  war,  from  New  Orleans  up  the  Mississippi  to  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, with  the  same  results  as  at  Cairo.     The  first  lot  of  Texan  cattle 
was  landed  at  Cairo  on  the  23d  day  of  April;  and  between  that  time 
and  the  1st  of  August,  when  the  railway  peremptorily  refused  to  trans- 
port any  more  stock,  about  sixteen  thousand  animals  j^assed  from  the 
south  on  that  route.     At  Cairo  the  splenic  fever  appeared  about  the  end 
of  May,  or  beginning  of  June;  at  Farina,  early  in  July;  at  Tolono,  on 
the  20tli  of  July ;  and  thence,  at  later  periods,  usually  dating  five  weeks 
from  the  time  the  Texan  cattle  were  driven  onto  the  roads  and  i)astures, 
where  disease  afterward  a])pcared.     The  majority  ot  the  cattle,  amount- 
ing ])robably  to  ten  thousand,  were  handled  by  the  railroad  ]»eoi»le  at 
Tolono;  and  Mr.  Charles  Troyford,  of  that  place,  who  had  lost   forty- 
eight  out  of  ninety-eight  Illinois  cattle  by  the  disease,  at  the  time  of  oiuv 
visit,  informed  me  that  he  had  not  seen  a  single  Texan  steer  diseased, 
8 


114  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

out  of  tlie  whole  ten  tliousaiid;  the  feeding,  driving',  and  delivering  of 
whicli  lu'  had  personally  superintended. 

From  the  coninieneenient  of  my  in(juiries,  I  had  considered  it  highly 
probable  that  eases  of  splenic  fever  would  be  found  even  among  south- 
ern stock;  and  rewards  were  ottered,  at  Tolono  and  elsewhere,  to  any 
one  who  would  indicate  cases  alive  or  dead.  Considering  that,  wher- 
ever we  traveled,  tlie  people  whose  stock  had  been  destroyed  were  most 
anxious  to  furnish  us  the  positive  proof,  if  such  could  be  obtained,  it  is 
remarkable  that  not  a  single  case  was  brought  under  our  notice. 

I  returned  to  Chicago,  and  again  had  occasion  to  inspect  both  Texan 
and  Illinois  cattle  in  the  slaughter-houses;  and  having,  by  that  time, 
ascertained  the  means  wherel^y  even  the  latent  forms  of  the  disease 
might  be  discovered  after  death,  I  had  no  ditticulty  in  tracing  lesions  in 
steers  reputed  healthy,  and  slaughtered  for  hunuiu  food.  This  infor- 
mation I  communicated  at  once  to  Dr.  Ranch,  medical  officer  of  health 
of  the  city  of  Chicago,  who  invited  me  to  address  a  meeting  of  the 
board  of  health,  on  Tuesday,  the  18th  ot  August;  and,  as  what  1  then 
stated  is  of  material  nujment  in  the  history  of  developments  made  by 
me  on  this  subje(;t,  1  do  not  hesitate  to  transcribe,  from  the  short-hand 
writer's  notes,  the  following  passages  : 

I  was  called  upon,  a  foitniglit  ago,  to  reply  to  the  question  whether,  if  any  of  the 
flesh  of  the  sick  animals  happened  to  be  sold,  it  was  probable  that  human  beings 
might  sufier  1  I  unhesitatingly  asserted  then,  what  I  repeat  uow,  that  the  meat  is  not 
poisonous,  and  is  incapable  of  injuring  hunian  beings.     To  that  opinion  I  adhere. 

If  1  should  be  asked  what  regulations  should  be  made  by  city  authorities,  in  relation 
to  the  traffic  in  diseased  meat,  I  have  simply  to  declare,  what  I  have  said  for  many 
years  past,  viz.,  that  it  is  impossible  to  draw  a  line  between  health  and  disease,  except 
as  the  two  conditions  are  known  to  medical  men ;  and,  notwithstantling  the  apparent 
disadvantages  of  condenuiing  nun-e  meat  than  there  is  any  necessity  for,  it  is  essential 
that  a  sanitary  officer  should  be  supported,  on  the  broad  general  principle,  that  a  dis- 
eased animal  is  an  animal  unfit  for  liuman  consumption. 

The  danger  of  an  abundant  supply  of  auinuil  food,  the  xiroduce  of  animals  aifected 
with  Texan  fever,  has  almost  passed.  Some  farmers  and  shippers  have  learned 
that  it  is  not  safe  to  send  stock  to  such  markets  as  these,  and  the  action  of  this,  as  of 
other  boards  of  health,  has  no  doubt  been  already  beneficial. 

But  any  systtmi  of  inspection  now  to  be  adopted  must  almost  inevitably  fail,  if 
directed  mainly  to  the  condition  of  live  stock  at  the  Union  stock  yards. 

It  is  in  the  slanght<u--h()uses  that  a  ready  means  of  ascertaining  the  real  condition  of 
cattle  can  be  secured;  and  the  recognition  of  the  Texan  fever  rests  in  the  examination 
specially  of  the  spleen,  which  is  much  increased  in  size,  sometimes  before  animals 
show  any  external  signs  of  sickness.  A  medical  inspector  would  likewise  detect  blood 
extravasations  in  th<"  internal  organs,  ulcerations  of  the  stonuich,  and,  as  the  disease 
advanced,  l)l(Midy  urine;  but  tlu^  most  satisfactory  sign,  for  the  purpose  of  meat  inspec- 
tions, is  tin-  condition  ol'  the  spleen.  The  flesh  of  animals  slaughtered,  when  aifected, 
.shows  no  signs  of  morliid  change,  so  that  it  is  essential  to  examine  the  internal  organs 
in  order  to  draw  conclnsions  as  to  the  condition  of  any  carcass. 

On  the  20th  of  August  we  left  for  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City,  and  Abi- 
lene. We  met  with  cases  of  splenic  fever  in  the  tirst  nanunl  city ;  but, 
from  the  manner  in  which  the  Texan  droves  are  segregated  while 
awaiting  their  transfer  to  the  cars  at  Kansas  City,  the  indigenous  stock 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  115 

in  that  district  was  found  healthy.  At  Junction  City  we  found  a  lierd 
of  sick  cattle  which  had  crossed  the  Texan  trails  at  Salina,  having  been 
vised  in  the  west  for  draught  purposes.  We  proceeded  to  Abilene,  the 
center  of  the  shipment  of  Texan  steers.  It  had  been  confidently 
asserted  that  the  stock,  driven  by  easy  stages  from  Texas  through  the 
Indian  Territory  and  unsettled  lands  of  Kansas,  had  communicated  no 
disease ;  but  this  we  found  erroneous,  as  the  nidigenoiis  stock  around 
Abilene  had  suffered,  and  herds  had  just  been  seized,  from  among  which 
we  had  ample  opportunities  for  examining  such  cattle,  both  alive  and 
dead. 

We  learned  at  the  Drovers'  Cottage  that,  scattered  along  the  creeks 
at  intervals  of  four  or  five  miles,  large  herds  of  Texan  cattle  could  he 
seen  over  a  distance  of  forty  or  fifty  miles.  This  led  us  to  undertake  a 
journey  across  the  prairie,  as  far  down  as  Big  Turkey  Creek,  near  the 
Little  Arkansas  Eiver;  and  it  is  but  just  that  publicity  be  given  to  the 
anxiety  manifested,  and  assistance  tendered  us  in  our  investigations,  on 
the  part  of  the  gentlemen  engaged  in  the  southern  trade.  Major  Call, 
who  owned  two  of  the  largest  herds,  zealously  undertook  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  our  journey ;  and,  by  this  means,  we  had  an  opportu- 
nity of  examining  carefully  considerably  over  fifteen  thousand  head  of 
cattle,  which  had  arrived  at  their  destination  during  the  months  of  July 
and  August. 

In  general  terms,  it  may  be  said  that  the  whole  stock  indicated  how 
much  better  it  is  for  cattle  to  be  driven  slowly,  where  there  is  an  <^mple 
supply  of  food  and  water,  than  it  is  to  transport  them,  even  for  two  or 
three  days,  in  railway  cars.  There  was  a  difference  in  the  herds  accord- 
ing to  the  speed  they  had  maintained  on  the  journej',  and  it  appears 
that  an  average  walk  of  eight  miles  daily,  over  the  whole  journey,  is  as 
much  as  the  cattle  should  be  subjected  to,  in  order  to  secure  improve- 
ment, rather  than  deterioration,  in  tlieir  condition.  The  best  drovers 
avoid  shouting  and  the  stock-whii);  and  much  depends  on  the  intelli- 
gence of  the  person  who  sujierintends  a  herd  as  to  the  selection  of  the 
best  grazing  ground,  and  searching  for  a  sufiicient  supply  of  water. 
The  creeks,  scattered  throughout  the  whole  of  the  i^rairie  lands  of 
Kansas,  dry  up  in  summer,  and  cattle  must  sometimes  be  driven  thirty 
or  thirty-five  miles  before  water  can  be  found.  This  is  rare ;  but,  under 
the  most  careful  management,  the  driving  of  cattle  from  Texas  to  any 
jioint  on  the  eastern  division  of  the  Union  Pacific  road  at  or  west  of 
Abeline,  is  attended  with  some  such  inconvenience.  Nevertheless, 
wherever  proper  supervision  is  exercised  that  the  animals  may  never  be 
overheated,  it  is  found  that  they  imi)rove  in  condition,  gTow  stout  and 
hardy,  and  are  in  fit  state  for  slaughter  at  the  end  of  their  journey  on 
foot. 

Of  the  stock  we  examined,  two  hundred  head  of  Indian  cattle,  from 
the  Chickasaw  Xation,  wei'c  in  pasture  five  miles  from  Abeline,  and  all 
appeared  in  very  fine  condition.     The  greater  part  of  the  remaining 


116  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

stock  we  inspected  was  I'roiii  uortliwcsteni,  from  central  and  from  east- 
ern Texas. 

The  only  evidence  of  suffering  was,  at  first,  lameness,  which  in  some 
eases  was  due  to  injuries  from  animals  fi<?hting,  or  spraining  themselves 
in  getting  through  difficult  places.  At  times  a  steer  gets  lame  from  the 
long  sharp  grass,  wounding  the  skin  between  the  hoof;  and  at  other 
points,  as  on  Smoky  Hill,  the  stony  surface,  with  angular  fragments  of 
iron-stone  and  other  hard  and  sharp  bits  of  flint,  wounds  the  feet  and 
disables  a  considerable  nund)er  of  cattle. 

On  Suu>ky  Hill  we  found,  on  the  27tli  of  August,  a  herd  which  had 
been  collected,  from  forty  to  two  hundred  miles  from  the  coast,  in  South- 
ern Texas,  between  the  1st  and  the  18th  of  May.  They  arrived  at  Smoky 
Hill  on  the  22d  of  August.  Two  animals  had  died  on  the  route;  one 
died  after  getting  lame,  and  the  other  refused  to  eat,  was  depressed, 
languid,  and  passed  blood  with  the  excreta.  At  the  time  of  our  visit, 
there  were  twenty  or  thirty  animals  which  looked  gaunt  and  weak,  but 
we  were  told  that  they  were  work-oxen  in  poor  condition.  One  animal 
was  lame  and  stiff,  but  was  reported  as  improving  in  condition.  Another 
had  died  during  the  night,  and  we  proceeded  to  examine  its  internal 
organs.  It  was  a  dun  Texan  steer,  four  years  old,  that  had  been  stam- 
peded with  others  the  day  before,  and  shortly  afterwards  had  succumbed. 
The  body  was  still  warm,  and  free  from  all  trace  of  decomposition.  The 
skin  and  subcutaneous  tissues  presented  no  mark  of  injury  or  disease. 
The  organs  of  respiration  were  healthy.  The  heart,  of  normal  volume 
and  consistency,  was  ecchymosed  at  its  apex,  and  circumscribed  blood 
extravasations  dotted  the  reflection  of  pericardium  over  and  around  the 
pulmonary  artery.  The  right  cavities  of  the  heart  contained  a  small 
•  clot  of  blood,  and  the  left  were  em^^ty.  The  endocardium  was  of  normal 
color  and  thickness  throughout.  The  mouth,  fauces,  pharynx,  oesopha- 
gus, and  the  first  three  stomachs  were  healthy.  The  fourth,  or  true 
stomach,  was  reddened  over  its  entire  mucous  surface.  The  folds  at  the 
cardiac  end  were  of  a  deep  red,  with  numerous  petechia?  scattered  irregu- 
larly over  their  surface.  The  petechite  were  usually  dark  in  the  center, 
where  the  membrane  was  softening,  and  of  a  lighter  crimson  hue  on  their 
circumferences.  Many  were  round,  and  others  of  irregular  sha])es,  either 
from  coalescence  of  several  extravasations  or  the  irregular  spreading  of 
one  original  bleeding  spot. 

The  small  intestine,  of  a  reddish  or  purplish  hue  externally,  was  the 
seat  of  ramified  redness,  with  some  petechite  scattered  tliroughout  its 
whole  extent.  Peyer's  glands  were  healthy.  The  ileum  was,  however, 
nu)re  congested  than  the  duodenum  or  jejumim. 

Tlie  ca'cum,  somewhat  reddened  on  its  entire  mucous  surface,  was 
strijx'd  with  blood  extravasations  which  had  occurred  along  tlu'  promi- 
nent edges  of  the  mucous  folds  at  its  fundus,  and  there  were  several 
Avell  defined  ecchymoses  scattered  irregularly  over  tlu>  whole  lining.  Tlie 
color  was  more  or  less  reddened  throughout,  until  near  its  termination, 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  117 

where  it  had  a  natural  cohir.  The  rectum  was  uot  discolored,  but  near 
the  anus  there  was  a  small  patch  with  a  thin  film  of  coagulated  blood 
on  its  unabraded  surface,  and,  when  the  membrane  wrinkled  by  the  ac- 
tion of  the  sphincter,  the  free  margin  of  the  folds  was  streaked  with 
interstitial  deposit  of  blood.  The  spleen,  of  a  dark  purplish  color, 
weighed  three  and  a  lialf  pounds,  and  its  structure  was  soft  and  friable. 

The  liver  was  of  normal  size  and  color,  but  the  gall  bladder  appeared 
thickened  from  an  exudation  of  yellow  serum  in  the  substance  of  its 
coats.  These  appeared  three  or  four  times  their  normal  thickness.  The 
small  arteries  and  veins  of  the  raucous  membrane  were  much  distended 
with  dark  blood,  and  there  was  also  some  capillary  congestion. 

The  kidneys  were  healthy.  The  bladder  was  moderately  distended  by 
clear-colored  urine,  but  its  mucous  surface,  reddened  at  the  fundus,  was 
dotted  with  small  petechije  of  a  vermiliou  hue  at  and  around  the  neck 
of  the  organ. 

Failing  to  obtain  further  evidence  of  splenic  fever  in  this  and  an  ad- 
joining herd,  from  a  careful  inspection  of  the  animals,  I  determined  on 
having  some  of  them  caught  and  examiued  with  a  self-registering  ther- 
mometer. Four  steers,  caught  with  a  lasso,  indicated  a  temi)erature  of 
103.40,  102.40,  1030^  and  104.20.  This  indicated  a  somewhat  exalted 
temperature  for  animals  which  to  all  appearances  were  in  health ;  and  I 
was  fortunate  in  getting  an  animal  that  had  been  used  in  a  wagon  driven 
quietlj"  to  camp,  and  then  examined.  This  indicated  a  temperature  of 
1030  Fahrenheit.  My  conviction  that  the  lasso  would  not  vary  the 
temperature  was  thus  confirmed,  and  it  is  hard  to  I'econcile  the  observa- 
tions made  with  perfect  freedom  from  disease. 

The  inspections  of  herds  grazed  on  and  near  the  Santa  Fe  road,  and 
inquiries  among  drovers  and  herders,  failed  to  bring  to  light  any  other 
cases  of  sickness  or  death ;  and  the  evidence  of  Texan  cattle  suffering 
from  splenic  fever,  so  far  as  our  observations  in  Kansas  go,  rested  on  the 
very  marked  case  examined  at  Smoky  Hill,  on  the  high  temperature 
manifested  by  animals  in  the  undoubtedly  infected  herd,  and  on  the  ob- 
servations as  to  the  relative  weights  of  spleens  in  healthy  and  sick  cattle, 
reported  in  the  foregoing  pages. 

Notwithstanding,  however,  the  favorable  report  which  can  be  made 
regarding  the  general  appearance  of  southern  herds,  it  is  proved  by  the 
experiences  of  past  years,  and  of  this,  that  they  disseminate  disease 
among  cattle  north  or  west  of  the  Gulf  States.  The  imj^ression  was  left 
on  my  mind,  after  the  first  observations  of  the  malady,  that  the  Texan 
steers  might  be  found  to  communicate  the  disease  only  for  a  limited  time 
after  leaving  Texas.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  such  is  the  case, 
though  we  found  that  two  months'  journey,  from  Texas  to  the  Union 
Pacific  road,  had  not  sutiliccMl  to  etfect  tliis  object.  Experiments  on  this 
point  would  be  desiral)le,  tliough  expensive,  and  demanding  mucli  time 
and  attention.  We  w^ere  told,  however,  that  the  (;attle  which  had  in- 
duced so  much  disease  at  Farina,  on  being  removed  to  Loda,  were  placed 


118  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Oil  l;ui(ls  wliic'li  broufjlit  tlicm  iu  contact  with  Illinois  cattle,  and  no  bad 
results  ensued.  Mr.  liobert  Clark,  of  Indianola,  who  has  had  great  ex- 
perience in  driving  cattle  through  Missouri  into  Illinois,  states  it  as  his 
decided  opinion,  from  rejieated  observation  and  inquiries  among  drovers, 
that  the  Texan  steers  are  most  dangerous  immediately  ai'ter  leaving 
Texas,  and  hence  the  great  opposition  to  their  importation  into  Missouri; 
but  that,  after  they  have  traveled  a  long  distance,  they  were  far  less 
liable  to  do  any  mischief.  This  point  is  of  great  importance  in  relation 
to  means  which  might  be  suggested  for  the  prevention  of  the  disease, 
and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that,  without  doubt,  cattle  driven  into  Kansas, 
Missouri,  or  other  States,  iu  the  summer  or  autumn  of  one  year,  grazed 
in  such  State  during  the  winter,  fail  to  retain  any  deleterious  principle, 
and  can  readily  be  intermixed  with  any  stock  during  the  winter  and 
spring.  Texan  herds,  therefore,  do  purify  themselves;  and  the  jioint  of 
greatest  importance  in  relation  to  the  traflic  in  such  stock  is  to  establish, 
without  doubt,  what  length  of  time  is  required  for  such  jniriti cation,  and 
if  means  can  be  adopted  to  accelerate  so  desirable  a  resnlt. 

NON-TRANSMISSION    OF   THE   DISEASE   BY  NORTHERN   OR  BY  WESTERN 

STOCK. 

During  the  three  months  last  summer,  too  many  well-marked  cases 
have  been  seen  of  communications  of  splenic  fever  to  Illinois  and  to  Indi- 
ana cattle.  At  first  these  animals  were  allowed  to  die;  but,  as  soon  as 
large  herds  of  grazing  stock  Avere  attacked,  an  effort  was  made  to  save 
what  could  be  saved,  by  shipping  and  sending  to  eastern  markets.  Cat- 
tle trucks  have  thus  been  filled  in  large  numbers  with  infected  steers, 
and  they  have  died  or  been  slaughtered  and  committed  to  the  rendering 
tanks.  But  not  a  single  case  has  transpired  to  show  that  these  animals 
have  induced,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  disease  in  the  stock  of  Eastern 
States.  How  different  from  this  is  the  working  of  a  contagions  disease ! 
Had  any  malady  of  the  nature  of  rinderpest  or  lung  plague  been  favored 
in  its  transmission,  as  this  one  has  been,  the  farmers  of  Ohio,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  New  York  w^ould  have  similar  bitter  experiences  to  record, 
to  those  of  the  much-injured  Illinois  farmers.  That  which  is  obvious, 
in  relation  to  the  progress  of  the  disease  through  the  country,  is  also 
apparent  in  any  district  invaded  by  the  disease.  None  but  southern  cat- 
tle cominnnicate  disease,  and  they  rarely  if  ever  do  any  mischief  through 
stockyards  and  cattle  cars,  and  only  by  feeding  on  pastures  over  which 
other  stock  is  apt  to  roam  and  feed.  No  case  has  been  brought  forward 
to  show  that  a  railway  car,  loaded  with  Texans,  will  communicate  dis- 
ease to  other  stock  afterward  placed  in  such  car.  Numerous  instances 
of  this  description  would  have  come  to  light,  had  we  been  dealing  with 
what  is  commonly  understood  as  a  contagious  plague. 


I 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  119 

COMMUNICATION  IN   STOCK  YARDS. 

The  earlier  reports  from  Cairo  stated  that  the  cows  in  that  city  had 
caught  the  disease  from  the  Texan  cattk^,  in  steamboat  and  railway  pens. 
Indeed  we  AA^ere  informed  that  many  of  the  Cairo  cows  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  wandering  not  only  near,  but  into,  the  cattle  pens,  and  eating 
the  hay  the  Texans  left  behind  them.  This  is  the  only  observation  that 
would  give  color  to  the  view  that  hay  might  be  a  means  of  propagating 
the  disorder.  But  we  learned,  at  Cairo,  that  Texan  cattle  had  been 
loose  on  the  common  within  the  levee,  and  some  stray  animals  had 
remained  for  some  days  on  the  very  prairie  Avhich  is  the  only  pasture 
for  the  cattle  of  the  town.  It  was  impossible  to  find  a  single  case  which 
aftbrded  reliable  grounds  for  supposing  that  the  only  chance  for  con- 
tamination was  in  the  cattle  pens  of  Cairo. 

It  may  be  suggested  that  eating  hay  which  has  been  poisoned,  must 
be  as  bad  as  eating  prairie  grass  over  which  Texan  steers  have  wandered. 
But  there  is  this  difference,  that  cattle  are  not  ajjt  to  eat  hay  on  which 
the  excretions  of  other  cattle  have  been  deposited,  and  they  would 
attempt  to  pick  up  only  the  clean  fodder.  On  grass  lands  the  growth  of 
grass,  and  the  washings  of  the  pasture  by  rains,  clear  off  the  filth, 
though  they  may  often  leave  adhering  deleterious  principles  which  are 
swallowed.  A  good  illustration  of  this  is  afforded  by  the  dissemination 
of  tapeworm,  the  ova  of  which  are  distributed  with  the  excrement  of  dogs 
and  other  carnivora ;  and,  while  the  fteces  are  washed  away,  the  ova 
adhere  to  blades  of  grass,  and  develop  in  the  systems  of  cattle  and 
sheep. 

I  Avould  not  wish  to  be  understood  that  I  consider  it  improbable  that 
hay  may,  under  some  circumstances,  be  poisoned  by  Texan  steers,  and 
afterwards  give  disease  to  other  stock ;  but,  as  yet,  no  facts  prove  that 
such  has  been  the  case.  On  the  contrary,  the  most  reliable,  though 
accidental  experiment,  is  afforded  by  cattle  fed  by  Mr.  Sherman,  of  the 
Union  stock  yards,  Chicago.  He  has  thirty-five  cows  which  have  grazed 
all  summer,  close  up  to  the  cattle  pens,  where  thousands  of  southern 
steers  have  been  inclosed,  Avithout  intermission.  Of  these  cows  the 
majority  have  been  purchased  out  of  the  yards  at  different  times,  some 
last  spring,  and  some  haA'e  been  in  the  cattle  pens  with  Texan  droves. 
On  the  occasion  of  my  visit  to  the  yards,  I  have  also  seen  a  Texan  calf 
placed  with  the  cows ;  and  yet  no  animals  could  be  in  better  health  than 
those  in  Mr.  Sherman's  dairy. 

This  suggestive  case  proves,  in  the  most  incontroA^ertible  manner,  th;  t 
western  cattle  can  be  mingled  with  Texans  in  stock  yards,  can  graze 
side  by  side  Avith  Texans,  if  separated  by  a  fence,  and  coavs  can  suckle 
the  Texan  calves,  Avithout  becoming  affected  with  splenic  fever.  I  am 
not  prepared  to  say  that  any  of  tlie  cows  purchased  by  Mv.  Sherman 
were  fed  on  liay  in  the  yards,  Avhile  they  Avere  in  the  same  pen  Avith  the 
Texans,  but  in  all  probability  they  were. 

This  point  has  acquired  some  importance  since  the  British  go\'ern- 


12(^  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

ment  inoliibited  the  importation  of  hay  from  the  United  States.  Act- 
ing- on  the  .side  of  prudence,  Avith  th<'  limited  information  that  coidd 
necessarily  have  been  at  its  disposal  \Aiieu  that  order  was  issued,  and 
in  view  of  the  losses  by  conta<;ious  diseases  which  have  become  chronic 
in  the  British  Isles,  it  was  in  all  ])r<)bability  the  only  course  that  could 
have  been  adopted.  I>ut  it  may  be  well  to  state,  for  future  guidance, 
that  it  is  not  possible  for  bales  of  haj'  shii)ped  to  Europe  to  carry  the 
splenic  fever.  For  years  to  come,  the  opeu  prairie  lands,  on  which  we 
have  witnessed  the  dissemination  of  the  disease,  cannot  yield  hay  for 
the  markets  of  America.  That  hay  is  produced  in  the  Eastern  and  the 
AVestern  States,  in  localities  where  Texan  cattle  never  have  been,  and 
probably  never  will  be,  grazed;  and,  moreover,  in  the  fields  mown  for 
hay,  cattle  are  not  pastured. 

The  larger  tracts  of  country  on  which  southern  droves  feed  are  likely 
to  remain  unsettled  for  years  to  come,  and  neither  scythe  nor  sickle  has 
ever  reached  them.  England  is  as  likely  to  get  rinderpest  as  splenic 
fever  from  America ;  and  the  only  way  in  which  it  might  see  the  latter 
would  be  by  transporting  herds  of  Gulf-coast  cattle  across  the  Atlantic, 
to  feed  on  British  i)asture  lauds,  side  by  side  with  British  stock. 

SEASONS. 

The  intiuence  of  seasons  on  the  development  of  splenic  fever  is  most 
.  marked.  A  few  nipping  frosts  check  its  ravages  anywhere  and  every- 
where. In  Missouri  and  Kansas  it  has  broken  out  as  late  as  October 
and  December.  Thus,  in  the  report  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
for  1807,  it  was  stated  from  Christian  County,  Missouri,  that,  in  18GC, 
"  Spanish  fever  was  introduced  into  the  western  part  of  this  county  by 
droves  of  Texas  cattle,  passing  in  October."  From  Woodson  County, 
Kansas,  it  was  reported  that  the  "Spanish  fever  broke  out  in  December, 
and  raged  until  the  1st  of  January,  ichen  the  cold  weather  set  in  and 
checJced  it"  The  droves  of  Texan  cattle,  which  communicated  the  dis- 
ease during  the  summer,  leave  Texas  by  the  close  of  winter;  So  that  the 
Texan  winter  in  no  way  interferes  with  the  development  of  that  state  o^ 
system  which  renders  Texas  herds  so  dangerous. 

In  a  case  reported  too  vaguely  to  be  of  real  value,  in  the  report  of 
the  DepartnuMit  of  Agriculture  for  1807,  we  are  informed  that,  in  Doug- 
las County,  Kansas,  "the  Spanish  fever,  or  soinethintj  similar,  made  its 
appearance,  about  the  1st  of  February,  among  a  few  cattle  that  were 
driven  from  the  south."  In  all  probability  this  was  not  splenic  fever  ; 
and  the  reporter  adds:  "I  thiidc  the  severity  of  the  winter  caused  the 
greatest  loss;  about  one-third  of  all  the  cattle  brought  from  the  south 
have  died."  It  is  certain  that,  in  States  north  of  ^Missouri  and  Kansas, 
splenic  fever  prevails  in  the  months  of  June,  .Tuly,  August,  and  Sei»tem- 
l)er.  Straggling  cases  may  oc(;ur  in  .May  and  in  October;  but  the  great 
losses  are  observed  during  the  four  months  just  nanuHl. 

Does  this  depend  on  the  intiuence  of  heat  and  drought,  or  on  the  acci- 
dental circumstances  that  Texan  cattle  have  been  mainly  distributed 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  121 

over  the  country  duriug  these  mouths  '?  The  second  is  tlie  main  reason ; 
but  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  reconcile  many  observations  which  I  have 
ma<le  with  the  idea  that  heat  does  not  favor  the  development  of  the  dis- 
order. It  is  not  sufficient  to  name  it,  but  it  is  asserted  by  practical  men 
that  Texan  cattle  can  be  handled  most  safely  \A-hen  the  summers  are  wet 
and  cool.  The  wet  may  wash  the  grasses,  but  the  cold  seems  to  lavor  a 
constitutional  resistance  to  the  attacks  of  the  disease.  A  record  of  the 
cases  which  demonstrate  that  Texan  cattle  can  be  freely  placed  with 
western  stock  in  winter  would  fill  a  volume.  At  Brondlands,  Hickory 
Grove,  near  Champaign,  and  in  a  host  of  other  places,  southern  cattle, 
purchased  last  fall,  were  placed  with  indigenous  stock,  have  remained 
with  them  ever  since,  and  induced  no  disease.  This  is  very  generally 
known  and  admitted.  A  reporter  from  Cedar  County,  Missouri,  writing- 
in  18(16,  said  :  "  It  is  tliought  that  our  cattle  w^ould  not  take  the  disease 
in  the  winter  season,  but  this  may  only  be  conjecture,  as  no  large  droves 
have  yet  been  driven  here  from  the  south  iu  the  winter."  Of  late  years, 
however,  there  has  been  an  effort  to  drive  from  Texas  for  the  October 
and  ]SroAember  markets,  and  we  have  not  heard  of  a  single  case  where 
stock-drivers,  up  at  that  time,  had  done  any  mischief  iu  Illinois  and 
Indiana.  Nipping  frosts  may  and  do  kill  the  disease,  by  destroying  the 
pasture,  and  compelling  people  to  feed  their  cattle.  This  completely 
arrests  that  method  of  transmission,  which  I  believe  to  be  the  main  or 
only  one.  As  soon  as  western  stock  is  deprived  of  the  pasture  ou  which 
Texans  have  been  fed,  they  are  safe ;  and  this  is  an  unanswerable  argu- 
ment in  favor  of  the  views  I  have  promulgated  since  the  time  of  my  first 
observations.  It  is  not  the  breath,  nor  the  saliva,  nor  cutaneous  emana- 
tions, which  are  charged  with  the  i)oisonous  principle,  but  the  fieces  and 
the  Tiriue. 

It  has,  however,  been  very  generally  remarked  that  Texan  cattle  are 
covered  with  the  tick.  I  owe  to  the  kindness  of  C.  V.  Riley,  esq..  State 
Entomologist  in  St.  Louis,  a  drawing  of  the  tick  as  found  on  Texas  cat- 
tle. In  the  annexed  engraving  is  an  upper 
and  an  inider  view.  As  the  legs  do  not 
alter  in  size  in  proportion  to  the  body,  a 
view  has  been  given  of  a  smaller  specimen  mmji^  nat.size 
between  the  two.     This  tick  belongs  to  the  Fig.  is. 

arachnidte,  subdivision  tracheariie,  and  family  ixodide.  It  has  eight 
fine,  jointed  legs.  It  is  not  confined  to  cattle  in  the  south,  and  is  seen 
iu  many  woodhind  pastures  of  the  United  States.  For  convenience, 
and  to  distinguish  this  species  from  Ixodes  reticulatus,  1  proptDse  to  call 
it  Ixodes  indentafus,  from  the  peculiar  indentations  on  the  body  and 
absence  of  stripes.  These  ticks  pass  to  the  bodies  of  native  cattle,  and 
■  breed.  The  young  ticks  are  distributed  iu  myriads  ou  the  grasses,  and 
it  has  been  supposed  that  the  grasses  are  thus  poisoned.* 

*For  the  scientitic  desciiptiou  of  this  iuaect  see  Mr.  Riley's  remarks  ou  the  Ixodes 
Bovis,  \>.  152. 


122  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICl'LTURE. 

Tlic  "  tick  tlicorv"  has  acquired  quite  a  renown  during  the  past  sum- 
mer; but  a  little  thought  should  have  satisfied  any  one  of  the  absurdity 
of  the  i(U'a.  In  the  tirst  place,  ticks  are  not  easily  fenced  on  a  ))iece  of 
hind,  by  a  wood  ience,  as  cattle  are.  A  wood  fence  sufliciently  isolates 
cattle  to  prevent  splenic  fever. 

Secondly.  We  have  seen  Texan  cattle  without  ticks;  and  such  cattle, 
and  also  dead  western,  quite  free  from  these  parasites.  There  has  been 
no  relation  whatever  between  the  abundance  of  ticks  and  the  severity  of 
the  disorder.  The  malady  has  been  quite  as  malignant  where  few  or  no 
ticks  occurred. 

Thirdly.  We  have  been  asked  to  watch  for  the  irritating  parasites  in 
the  stomach  and  intestines,  as  it  was  believed  that  they  acted  mechan- 
ically ;  but  we  have  never  seen  a  tick  during  any  stage  of  its  develop- 
ment in  the  alimentary  canal. 

Lastly.  The  tick  is  not  confined  to  Gulf-coast  cattle,  which  we  know 
communicate  this  disease ;  but  it  is  met  with  in  various  parts  of  the 
States  where  cattle  are  reared  that  never  cause  splenic  fever.  Why 
should  the  ticks  not  communicate  the  malady  from  western  cattle  to 
other  cattle,  if  they  can  induce  it  by  crawling  from  the  Texan  to  western 
stock  !  Many  erroneous  views  as  to  the  origin  and  propagation  of  the 
Texan  fever  may  be  set  at  rest  by  showing  what  it  is  not ;  and  for  this 
reason  1  shall  proceed  at  once  to  discuss  the  analogies  and  differences 
between  splenic  fever  and  other  disorders  afflicting  cattle,  and  even  the 
human  species. 

THE  NATUEE  OF  SPLENIC  FEVER. 

The  history  of  splenic  fever  would  seem  to  indicate  its  complete  isola- 
tion from  every  disease,  and  especially  every  form  of  plague  hitherto 
described.  But  a  careful  study  of  its  progress  and  development,  with 
the  light  afforded  by  a  knowledge  of  other  cattle  diseases,  enables  us  to 
demonstrate  points  of  givat  resemblance,  and  indeed  of  identity  with 
maladies  which  annually  recur  in  various  parts  of  the  world.  It  is, 
moreover,  important,  in  a  practical  point  of  view,  to  show  how  it  differs 
from  maladies  which  spread  from  country  to  country,  and  from  the  east 
westward,  devastating  broad  tracts  of  land,  and  calling  for  the  most 
decisive  and  energetic  means  for  their  suppression. 

Splenic  fever  is  not  an  epizootic,  properly  so  called.  It  is  not  propa- 
gated through  time  and  space  by  contagion.  The  true  plague  of  ani- 
mals, or  e]uz()otics,  such  as  the  Russian  nuirrain  or  rinderpest,  the  lung 
plague  or  contagious  pleuro-pneumoniaof  cattle,  the  foot  and  the  mouth 
diseases  of  all  warm-blooded  animals,  variolas  fevers,  hydroi)liobia,  and 
the  like,  spread  ]»y  direct  or  indirect  transference  of  an  animal  poison,  a 
virus,  fronj  sick  to  healthy  animals;  and  the  sick,  as  a  rule,  indicate,  by 
very  manifest  outward  symptonis,  in  the  old  world  the  divsease  under 
which  they  are  laboring.  The  i)oisons  take  effect  without  regard  to  sea- 
sons, and  are  alike  developed  in  the  systems  of  sick  animals.     It  is  not 


SPLENIC  OR  PERIODIC  FEVER  OF  CATTLE.        123 

cout.ict  between  Texan  and  southern  or  western  cattle  that  induces  the 
malady ;  and,  so  far  as  recorded  observations  and  my  own  inquiries  at 
present  extend,  the  animals  contaminated  by  feeding  on  Texan  trails 
have  not  in  a  single  instance  propagated  the  disease  to  other  animals. 
Indeed,  I  have  not  met  with  one  instance  where  sucking  calves  have 
caught  the  affection  from  their  dams,  or  from  other  cows  which  they 
have  been  made  to  suck.  Many  cases  have  come  under  my  observation 
of  cattle  in  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  elsewhere,  coming  in  contact  with 
Texans  through  a  fence,  by  drinking  in  the  same  water,  and  even  being 
housed  in  sheds  with  sick  natives,  and  yet  escaping  the  disease.  We 
must,  therefore,  distinguish  it  from  the  contagious  maladies  alluded  to, 
and  refer  it  to  another  group. 

Splenic  fever  is  an  enzootic.  It  originates  in  various  parts  of  the 
Gulf  States.  Florida  cattle  driven  north  are  as  dangerous  as  Texans, 
deriving  the  same  deleterious  properties  from  the  soil  on  which  they  are 
reared,  and  in  all  probability  the  vegetations  on  which  they  feed.  In 
the  south,  si^lenic  fever  is  distinctly  indigenous,  and,  so  far  as  Texas  is 
concerned,  I  have  satisfied  myself  that  the  disease  is  universally  preva- 
lent in  that  State. 

Its  complete  manifestation  is  readily  witnessed  in  States  north  of 
31°  north  latitude.  Here  the  malady  can  no  longer  be  declared 
indigenous;  but  there  are  numerous  instances  which  can  be  cited,  of 
I)ui'ely  enzootic  diseases  spreading  a  certain  distance  by  contagion.  Two 
of  the  most  marked  instances  are  furnished  us  by  the  malignant  anthrax 
of  Eussia,  better  known  as  the  Siberian  boil  plague,  and  the  milk-sick- 
ness, or  trembles,  of  the  United  States. 

The  milk-sickness  is  due  to  cattle  feeding  on  low  woodland  pastures, 
where  certain  poisonous  plants  abound.  It  originates  only  in  a  very 
limited  area  of  country ;  but  the  animals  may  travel,  and  their  flesh  and 
milk  will  communicate  the  disease  when  eaten  by  other  animals,  and 
even  by  human  beings.  Trembles  is,  therefore,  an  enzootic  disorder, 
capable  of  being  primarily  produced  only  in  definite  localties ;  but  the 
poison  which  contaminates  the  food  is  capable,  through  that  food,  of 
attacking  a  second  and  a  third  animal,  or  as  many  as  partake  of  it. 
There  is  another  striking  similarity  between  the  course  of  milk-sickness 
and  splenic  fever.  The  animal  food,  poisoned  in  the  disease-producing 
district,  may  show  no  signs  of  disease,  unless  subjected  to  a  definite 
existing  cause,  such  as  being  driven  or  frightened.  In  classifying 
trembles  among  the  diseases  of  the  lower  animals  we  should  undoubt- 
edly place  it  among  the  effects  of  vegetable  i)oisons,  and  study  it  as 
a  very  remarkable  toxicological  phenomenon.  I  should  be  disposed 
to  deal  with  splenic  fever  in  the  same  way.  Southern  cattle,  accustomed 
to  feed  on  certain  pastures  in  Florida  and  Texas,  thrive,  antl  their  sys- 
tems become  charged  with  principles  which  are  thrown  off  in  the  excre- 
tions for  many  weeks,  and  probably  two  or  three  months  after  they  leave 
their  native  soil.     Herds  of  these  animals  necessarily  deposit  a  large 


124  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

amount  of  whatever  they  excrete;  and  thns  i)astures  are  coutaniinated, 
the  grasses  of  wliieh  prove  deadly  poisons  to  healthy  and  susceptible 
cattle.  It  is  certain  that  the  feeding-  of  cattle  on  the  land  over  which 
Texan  animals  h  ive  passed  is  the  ordinary,  and  probablj'  invariable, 
canso  of  s])l(Miic  fever. 

The  circiuustances  under  which  the  disease  manifests  itself  tend  to 
favor  the  view  that  it  is  allied  to  the  numerous  forms  of  anthrax  fever, 
which  prevail  very  generally  in  hot  countries,  and  usually  in  low  lands. 
These  diseases,  it  is  true,  are  scattered  throughout  the  temperate  zone ; 
but  their  development  depends  upon  heat,  wherever  it  appears  on  stiff, 
retentive  soils ;  and  in  some  sandy  but  fertile  lands,  their  ravages  are 
especially  witnessed  during  wet  seasons.  Heat  favors  and  creates  the 
manifestations  of  splenic  fever.  The  malady  springs  in  a  warm  country, 
and  is  propngated  most  readilj-  with  heat  and  drought.  It  is  indigenous 
where  vegetation  is  rank,  and  the  soil  charged  with  an  excess  of  organic 
life,  which,  for  want  of  direction,  tends  to  waste  and  mischief.  During 
the  hot  summer  months,  anthrax  or  carbuncular  fevers  force  the  stock- 
owniers  of  Southern  Europe  to  seek  the  hills  vnth  their  flocks  of  sheep 
and  goats;  and  to  disregard  this  injunction  implies,  not  only  the  death 
of  their  animals,  but  the.  destruction  of  other  warm-blooded  creatures, 
including  man  himself,  by  malignant  pustule.  To  this  category  undoubt- 
edly belonged  the  various  pests  of  old ;  and,  by  traveling  northward, 
the  virulence  of  these  diseases,  the  development  of  the  anthrax  poison, 
and  the  propagation  under  any  circumstances,  by  contagion,  diminish 
by  simple  and  imperceptible  gradations,  and  ultimately  cease.  The 
black  water  of  Great  Britain  and  of  America  is  one  of  the  forms  of  this 
deadly  anthrax,  which,  even  so  far  north  as  Aberdeen,  in  Scotland,  has 
been  conununicated,  by  the  flesh  eaten,  to  a  whole  family  of  human 
beings,  who  succumbed  from  malignant  pustule.  The  Siberian  boil  plague 
is  one  of  the  typical  forms  of  anthrax,  and  its  history  in  relation  to 
splenic  fever  is  interesting,  inasmuch  as  it  occurs  in  a  vast  country, 
where  stock  is  driven  in  masses  from  the  east  westward ;  and  an  oppor- 
tunity is  thus  afforded  for  contagious  transmission,  which  is  not  often 
witnessed  elsewhere. 

Many  so-called  blood  diseases,  all  enzoi3tic  in  their  nature,  and  capable 
of  limited  transmission,  are  classitied,  by  the  ablest  veterinary  patholo- 
gists of  France  and  Germany,  with  the  anthrax  fevers.  In  Germany 
the  most  destructive  forms  are  so  often  characterized  by  enlargement, 
softening,  and  even  rupture  of  the  spleen,  that  the  forms  of  anthrax  are 
included  under  a  generic  term,  "  Milzbrand."  The  condition  of  the  si>leeu 
in  si)lenic  fever  would  induce  many  a  i)ath()logist  to  classify  it  unhesita- 
tingly among  the  forms  of  "Milzl)rand."  Ihit  there  is  a  line  of  demarca- 
tion wliich,  in  my  opinion,  can  be  fairly  established. 

Southern  cattle,  capal»le  of  propagating  this  disease,  usually  start 
from  their  homes  in  the  winter,  or  early  in  spring.  They  do  not  die,  as 
is  always  the  case  where  anthrax  originates,  in  large  numbers  so  as  to 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  125 

attract  decided  attention,  on  the  lands  which  foster  the  development  of 
that  subtle  poison  they  carry  northward.  Their  systems  are  not  charged 
with  an  inocnlable  virus,  such  as  the  anthrax  poison  always  is,  when 
there  is  a  suflficient  heat  to  develop  it.  The  heat,  during  the  suujnier  of 
18C8,  was  higher  than  is  usually  required  for  the  production  of  the 
anthrax  virus.  Tlie  best  and  fattest  animals  in  a  herd  are  the  first  to 
die  of  anthrax,  and  death  is  sudden,  unexpected ;  and  an  animal  in  the 
apparent  enjoyment  of  health  at  night  is  dead  before  morning,  or  seen 
well  in  the  morning  and  found  dead  by  noon.  French  authors  speak  of 
their  dying  "d'une  apoplexie  fulminante."  Had  the  cattle  which  have 
been  slaughtered  as  human  food,  during  the  past  summer,  in  Chicago 
and  elsewhere,  been  tainted  with  a  true  anthrax,  as  they  have  been  with 
splenic  fever,  medical  reports  would  have  developed  many  instances  of 
malignant  pustule  in  man,  which  they  have  not  done.  With  the  ther- 
mometer at  108°  or  110°  such  a  result  was  inevitable. 

There  is  one  disease  in  Europe,  which  prevails  in  various  parts  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  and  is  common  on  woodland  pastures  during  the 
spring  and  summer  months,  which  presents  most  of  the  characteristics 
of  splenic  fever.  It  is  the  black-water  enzootic  hsjematuria,  or  bloody 
urine,  which  on  the  banks  of  the  Dee,  in  Aberdeenshire,  is  termed  the 
"  darn."  The  Germans  call  it  "  Blutharnen,"  "  Rotharnen,"  "  Maiseuche," 
"Weidebruch,"  and  speak  of  it  as  an  enzootic  occurring  in  spring  and 
summer  among  "grazing"  cattle.  It  is  described  as  characterized  by 
bloody  urine,  and  weakness  of  gait  in  hind  quarters,  associated,  in  some 
cases,  with  intense  fever;  and  in  others  with  the  weakness  of  antemia, 
or  the  bloodless  state.  There  is  sometimes  discharge  of  a  little  blood 
with  the  fieces.  There  is  occasionally  diarrhea,  but  more  commonly 
the  excrement  is  nearly  of  normal  character.  After  death  the  bladder 
is  found  distended  with  bloody  urine,  the  kidneys  are  dark  colored,  and 
their  pelves  distended  with  similar  urine ;  the  blood  is  dark,  the  liver 
usually  light  colored;  but  the  spleen  congested,  and  of  a  dark  color; 
and  there  are  blood  extravasations  on  the  mucous  and  the  serous  mem- 
brane. Indeed,  Spinola  speaks  of  the  fourth  stomach,  and  even  the 
intestines,  as  very  inflamed.  It  is  important  and  instructive  to  notice 
the  circumstances  under  which  enzootic  hamiaturia  occurs  in  Great 
Britain,  and  other  parts  of  Europe.  Since  the  introduction  of  turnip 
husbandry,  a  malady  has  arisen  among  cows,  which  is  usually  known  as 
"red  water,"  after  calving,  due  to  the  condition  of  turnips  grown  on 
ill-drained  lands.  In  185G  I  was  engaged  in  investigating  the  diseases 
of  Aberdeenshire  and  Kincardineshire,  for  the  Highland  and  Agricultural 
Society  of  Scotland.  1  tlien  distinctly  ascertained  that  tracts  of  land 
of  the  same  character,  and  adjoining  one  another,  grew  turnips  capable 
or  incapable  of  producing  the  disease,  according  to  the  state  of  drainage. 
Indeed,  farmers  whose  lands  were  well  cultivated  were  sometimes  sur- 
rounded by  poor  people,  growing  turnips  on  small  phits,  or  so-called 
"l)endules,"  of  the  same  lauds,  but  without  the  advantages  of  good 


126  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

draiuago.  Tlie  fjinners'  cows  were  healthy;  whereas  those  fed  on  the 
poor  peo[)k*'s  crops  suffered  from  "red  water,''  after  calving.  This  is  a 
distinct  form  of  enzootic  haimatnria,  due  ai)parently  to  some  modili(;a- 
tions  in  the  character  of  a  root,  grown  on  damp  and  retentive  soils.  It 
is,  therefore,  proved  that  the  conditions  of  soil  may  injuriously  aftect 
domestic  animals,  and  produce  a  definite  and  <listinct  disease,  tlirough 
foods  that  are  usually  wholesome.  But  the  enzootic  h;ematuria  Avliich 
does  not  depend  on  a  root  crop,  and  which  attacks  steers,  heifers,  preg- 
nant and  even  calving  cows,  has  usually  been  ascribed,  like  the  milk- 
sickness  of  Illinois,  to  some  definite  poison;  and  the  singular  manifesta- 
tions of  the  disease,  as  it  travels  from  Texas,  would  give  weight  to  such 
an  opinion.  Tlie  "darn"  of  Aberdeenshire  was  supposed  at  one  time  to 
be  due  to  a  harmless,  wild  anemone,  and  afterward  to  the  "darnel 
grass,"  or  LoUum  temulentum  ;  but  the  opinion  which  I  formed  on  the 
spot  was,  that  the  cattle  died  from  eating  the  young  shoots  of  oaks, 
and  other  astringent  plants. 

Medical  men  have  had  their  attention  directed  to  this  subject  during 
the  past  summer;  and,  in  some  instances,  they  have  referred  to  it  as  a 
malignant  typhus  or  typhoid  fever.  It  is  widely  dift'erent  from  both  in 
its  origin,  development,  and  progress.  The  morbid  lesions,  so  far  as 
blood  extravasations  are  concerned,  might  suggest  an  analogy  to  typhus; 
but  this  is  not  the  only  disease  associated  with  blood  changes  and 
petechia?.  AVho  ever  saw  a  spontaneous  development  of  malignant 
typhus  on  the  healthy,  open  prairies  of  this  country,  even  in  mauf  If 
it  be  typhus,  how  is  it  that  it  is  not  contagious,  and  certainly  not  infec- 
tions ?  If  typhus,  why  do  the  sick  Avestern  steers  not  communicate  it  as 
readily  as  the  Texans  ?  It  is  assuredly  neither  typhus  nor  typhoid  fever; 
and  its  origin,  in  the  causes  whicjh  we  have  reason  to  believe  operate 
most  in  its  production  in  the  south,  approaches  ague  more  closely  than 
any  other  disorder.  Splenic  fever  is  not  an  intermittent  or  remittent 
disease ;  but  it  probably  manifests  itself  spontaneonslj"  in  districts,  such 
as  are  commonly  invaded  by  malaria,  and  this  is  what  we  see  constantly 
in  relation  to  the  enzoiitic  diseases  of  animals,  and  especially  those  in 
which  the  spleen  has  atendency  to  congestion,  hemorrhage,  and  enlarge- 
ment. 

There  is  really  no  analogue  in  man,  so  far  as  our  observations  extend; 
and,  in  stating  that  the  circumstances  of  its  «levelopment  are  more  like 
the  reputed  results  of  malarious  intoxication,  it  must  not  be  thought 
that  we  believe  in  the  commonly  accepted,  but  very  vague  and  unsatis- 
factory, notions  as  to  the  nature  of  malaria.  The  conclusions,  therefore, 
which  1  am  disposed  to  draw  from  all  the  facts  and  arguments,  adduced 
in  relation  to  the  causes  ami  natur«'  of  si)lenic  fever,  are — 

First.  That  southern  cattle,  esin'cially  from  the  Gulf  coast,  are  affected 
with  a  latent  m-  an  a|)i)arent  form  of  the  disease. 

Secondly.  That  they  become  affected  in  conse(pience  of  the  nature  of 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  127 

the  soil  and  vegetatiou  on  wliicli  they  are  fed,  and  tlie  water  wliicli  they 
drink. 

Thirdly.  That  their  systems  are  charged  with  poisonous  principles 
which  accumulate  in  the  bodies  of  acclimatized  animals  that  enjoy  an 

immunity. 

Fourthly.  That  southern  cattle  may  be  driven  so  that  they  improve 
in  condition;  and  yet  for  some  weeks,  and  probably  not  less  than  three 
months,  they  keep  excreting  the  deleterious  principles  which  poison  the 
cattle  of  the  States  through  which  the  herds  are  driven,  on  their  way 
north  or  west. 

Fifthly.  That  all  breeds  of  cattle  in  States  north  of  those  on  the  Gulf 
coast,  without  regard  to  age  or  sex,  if  they  feed  on  grass  contaminated 
by  southern  droves,  are  attacked  by  the  splenic  fever ;  that  the  disease 
may  be,  but  is  very  rarely,  propagated  through  the  feeding  of  hay. 

Sixthly.  That  the  disease  occurs  mainly  during  the  hot  months  of 
summer  and  autumn  and  never  after  the  wild  grasses  have  been  killed 
by  frosts,  until  the  mild  weather  in  spring  returns;  that  then  the  grasses 
are  healthy,  and  continue  healthy,  unless  fresh  droves  of  Texan  or  of 
Florida  cattle  are  driven  over  the  land. 

Seventhly.  That  heat  and  di'ought  aggravate  the  disease  in  individual 
animals.  ^ 

Eighthly.  That  there  is  not  the  slightest  foundation  for  the  view  that 
the  ticks  disseminate  the  disease. 

Ninthly.  That  the  splenic  fever  does  not  belong  to  that  vast  and 
deadly  group  of  purely  contagious  and  infectious  diseases  of  which  the 
rinderpest,  the  lung  plague,  and  eruptive  fevers  are  typical. 

Tenthly.  That  it  is  an  enzootic,  due  to  local  influences,  capable  of  only 
a  limited  spread,  and  analogous  or  identical  with  the  black  water  of 
various  parts  of  Europe. 

Eleventhly.  That,  however  warm  the  weather  may  be,  cattle  affected 
with  spleni(i  fever  have  not  developed  in  their  systems  any  poison  like 
the  anthrax  poison;  and  that  the  flesh,  blood,  and  other  tissues  of 
animals  are  incapable  of  inducing  any  disease  in  man  or  animals. 

Twelfthly.  That  splenic  fever  is  not  malignant  typhus  or  typhoid  fever. 
That  it  has  no  anah)gue  among  human  diseases,  but  is,  however,  devel- 
oped under  conditions  which  prevail  where  the  so-called  malaria  injuri- 
ously affects  the  human  health. 

CURATIVE  TREATMENT. 

The  great  majority  of  epizootic  and  enzo{)tic  diseases  never  can,  and 
never  will,  be  arrested  bv  the  medical  treatment  of  the  sick.  Even  the 
benignant  epizootic  aphtha',  which  is  rarely  fatal,  spreads  rapidly  through 
a  coumtry  ;  and,  in  the  long  run,  owing  to  the  certainty  and  rapidity  of 
its  transmission,  entails  more  loss  than  some  of  the  most  fatal  diseases. 
Splenic  fever  may  be  classed  among  the  incurable  maladies,  inasmuch 
as  we  know  of  no  antidote  to  the  mysterious  poison  inducing  it;  and, 


128  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

while  we  can  alleviate  some  of  the  sufferings  of  the  affected  cattle,  a 
verytritiiiiji-  nieiisure  of  success  atteiuls  the  most  assiduous  nursing  and 
medication.  Bleeding  has  been,  in  some  parts,  a  favorite  remedy ;  and 
I  have  known  one  animal  recover,  either  in  conseciiience  or  in  spite  of 
the  remedy.  Purgatives  have  been  freely  and  fairly  tried,  with  good 
result  in  very  few  instances,  and  with  depressing  and  killing  inliuences 
in  many  more. 

The  "red  water"  of  cows  in  Scotland  is  often  cured  by  opiates,  which 
check  the  discharge  of  blood;  and  with  alcoholic  stinudauts  in  modera- 
tion, with  the  free  use  of  mucilaginous  drinks.  I  have  tried  the  same 
treatment  in  splenic  fever,  Avith  little  or  no  success.  Page  after  page 
miaht  be  rilled  with  notes  on  the  administration  of  nitrate  and  of  chlo- 
rate  of  potash,  iodide  of  potassium,  quinine,  salts  of  iron,  sesquicarbo- 
nate  of  ammonia,  Epsom  or  Glauber's  salts,  sulphur,  ginger,  calomel, 
soap,  and  oil ;  and  even  guano  from  the  goose  cote  has  been  said  "  fre- 
quently to  effect  a  cure,  given  in  doses  of  one  quart,  until  a  thorough 
evacuation  is  produced."  A  reporter  from  Woodson  County,  Kansas, 
says  this  is  "a  sovereign  and  unfailing  remedy  for  the  dry  murrain." 
None  of  these  agents  (and  some  have  been  extolled  as  specific)  have 
affected  the  steady  progress  and  fatality  of  the  disease. 

Shelter,  protection  from  flies,  linseed  or  flaxseed  tea,  friction  of  the 
limbs,  and  injections,  are  humane,  and,  to  ff  trifling  extent,  useful  expe- 
dients. I  have  seen  coavs  return  to  nearly  their  full  quantity  of  milk  on 
such  treatment,  with  the  aid  of  half-ounce  doses  of  sulphuric  ether,  in 
four  ounces  of  the  solution  of  the  acetate  of  ammonia  and  a  quart  of 
water,  given  thrice  daily.  Relief  has  been  afforded  by  giving  an  ounce 
of  tinctm^e  of  opium  for  the  first  day  or  two;  but  to  enter  further  into 
the  history  of  experiments  on  this  point  is  to  recount  a  history  of  failures 
such  as  the  worlcfts  accustomed  to,  in  speaking  of  the  medical  treatment 
of  human  cholera  and  small-pox,  or  rinderpest  and  the  deadly  forms  of 
anthrax  in  cattle. 

THE  PKEVENTIOI^r  OF  SPLENIC  FEVER. 

The  main  object  of  the  investigation  which  has  brought  to  light  the 
facts  noted  in  the  foregoing  pages,  has  been  the  discovery  of  means 
wherebv  the  direct  and  the  indirect  losses  sustained  for  several  vears 
past,  but  especially  in  1868,  may  not  again  harass  American  farmers, 
and  injure  the  traders  in  Texan  cattle.  Hitherto  the  ouly  measures  sug- 
gested, and  very  partially  adopted,  have  consisted  either  in  prohibiting 
the  importation  of  southern  cattle  into  certain  States,  or  portions  of 
States;  and,  in  one  instance,  in  preventing  their  introduction  only  dur- 
ing the  summer  months. 

Stringent  lawshave  failed  to  avert  the  most  disastrous  and  wide-spread 
losses;  and  while  on  the  one  haml  persons  interested  in  the  Texan  trade 
have  justified  their  inattention  to  legal  restrictions,  by  declaring  them 
one  and  all  unconstitutional,  instances  have  not  been  wanting  of  mob 


SPLENIC  OR  PERIODIC  FEVER  OF  CATTLE.        129 

law  adopting  its  own  expedients.  Dealers  and  farmers  wlio  owned 
southern  cattle  have  been  threatened,  they  have  been  pounced  on  in  the 
dead  of  night,  that  they  raight  surely  be  found  in  their  homes;  and 
there  and  then  they  have  been  requested  to  attend  meetings  of  indig- 
nant and  impoverished  neighbors.  Lastly  the  stampeding  and  sliooting 
of  Texan  cattle,  whenever  and  wherever  they  might  be  seen,  have  been 
the  mild  alternatives  which  seem  to  have  satisfied  a  thirst  for  revenge ; 
or  in  some  instances  human  life  would,  in  all  probability,  have  been  sac- 
rificed. Indeed,  threats  have  been  numerous,  and  lieavy  bonds  or  tlie 
actual  payment  of  cash  for  dead,  dying,  and  infected  stock,  have  alone 
saved  tlie  persons  of  traders,  commission  agents,  and  farmers,  who  hap- 
pened to  have  any  dealings  in  long-horned  beeves.  The  prevention  of 
splenic  fever,  therefore,  implies  in  many  instances  the  i)revention  of  law- 
lessness, and  the  preservation  of  the  public  peace. 

We  have  seen  that  splenic  fever  is  a  malady  indigenous  to  Texas.  It 
is  there  an  enzootic,  and  whatever  may  be  the  plant  or  i)lants  inducing 
the  disorder,  it  is  indisputable  that  the  conditions  prevail  there  which 
are  rife  in  all  parts  of  the  world  where  enzootic  blood  diseases,  fatal 
parasitic  maladies,  and  periodic  outbreaks  of  mysterious  affections,  which . 
annihilate  herds  and  even  depopulate  districts,  occasionally  predomi- 
nate. 

The  extirpation  of  noxious  plants,  the  purification  of  streams,  the 
equalization  of  the  balance  between  animal  and  plant  life  on  a  given 
extent  of  soil,  are  agricultural  problems  which  cannot,  in  Texas,  be 
solved  for  generations  to  come.  Thorough  drainage,  breaking  up  pas- 
ture lands,  fencing  off  low  wood  lands  which  are  crammed  with  a  disease- 
producing  vegetation,  are  measures  neglected  in  Great  Britain,  which 
will  tax  the  industry  and  capital  of  many  of  the  sons  and  grandsons  of 
the  present  race  of  farmers,  north,  east,  and  west,  in  the  United  States; 
and  how  much  longer  must  not  the  exuberant  soil  of  Texas  wait  for  the 
hands  and  the  brains  engaged  in  making  two  blades  of  grass  grow  where 
there  was  once  but  one  I  Fertile,  and  reeking  with  the  decay  of  excess 
as  it  is,  we  cannot  anticipate  the  time  when  it  will  be  so  densely 
peopled  as  to  secure  attention  to  definite  sanitary  laws  which,  if  not 
impracticable  under  the  circumstances,  might  be  applied  for  the  preven- 
tion of  splenic  fever  in  Texas,  Florida,  or  wherever  else  it  may  be  dis- 
covered to  exist  as  an  enzoiitic. 

The  question  next  presents  itself  whether  the  trade  in  live  cattle 
between  the  south  and  the  north  is  to  be  permitted.  Its  annihilation 
would  effectually  prevent  such  outbreaks  as  I  have  had  occasion  to  study; 
but  such  an  expedient,  thougli  it  might  commend  itself  to  some  short- 
sighted farmers  in  Illinois  and  Indiana,  would  not  be  tolerated.  It  is 
true  that,  notwithstanding  all  the  dil1li;ulties  experienced  in  the  past, 
wherever  attempts  have  been  made  in  the  south  to  slaughter,  and  con- 
sign their  animal  pro<luce  to  northern  and  other  markets,  the  time  will 
arrive,  in  all  probability,  for  some  such  outlet  to  be  secured.  But,  with 
9 


130  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

beef  at  twenty,  twenty-five,  or  thirty  cents  per  pound  in  P]iila(l('li)liiii, 
New  York,  and  Boston,  Avith  the  i)ackin<»'  interests  of  Chicago,  and  the 
demands  of  Europe,  esi)ecially  in  times  of  war,  it  is  idle  to  conteni])hite 
the  fencing  in  of  steers,  whidi  may  be  purchased  by  thousands  and 
tens  ot  thousands  at  eight  or  ten  dollars  a  liead  in  Texas.  The  ])rairie 
lands  ofStatesliivored  by  geographical  position,  and  nearest  the  gieat  cen- 
ters of  consumption  for  all  animal  produce,  caiuiot  be  utilized  for  some 
time  to  come,  without  the  advantage  of  supplying  food  for  stock  bred  at 
a  little  cost  elsewhere. 

To  suit  a  northern  trade,  the  Texan  will  doubtless  attend  to  crossing 
his  cattle  with  short-horned  blood ;  and  this,  while  it  will  encourage  the 
l)urchase  of  such  animals  by  the  farmers  of  Missouri,  Illinois,  and  Indi- 
ana, will  in  no  way  tend  to  modify  splenic  fever.  Fortunately  for  all, 
it  is  possible  to  establish  rules  which,  if  intelligently  attended  to,  will 
effectually  protect  any  susceptible  animal  from  destruction  by  contact 
with  members  of  its  own  race  from  the  Gulf  States.  All  these  rules 
must  aim  at  a  complete  isolation  for  a  sufticient  period  of  time. 

With  our  present  state  of  knowledge,  it  is  imperative  that  we  should 
deal  with  all  cattle  from  the  Gulf  States  in  the  same  way.  But 
numerous  observations  warrant  us  in  believing  that  a  careful  study 
of  the  geographical  distributions  of  the  splenic  fever  in  the  south 
would  indicate  that  there  are  broad  tracts  of  land  in  Texas  where  the 
stock  is  free  from  all  contamination,  and  may,  in  all  i^robability,  be 
freely  mixed  with  cattle  in  any  part  of  the  States.  It  w'ould  not  be  safe 
to  indicate  the  regions  supposed  to  be  healthy,  inasmuch  as  they  may 
be  more  or  less  intersected  by  plague-stricken  spots;  but  it  is  safe  to 
assert  that  the  most  decided  and  best  ascertained  manifestations  of  dis- 
ease, and  capability  of  communicating  disease,  have  been  observed 
among  herds  derived  from  and  near  the  Gulf  coast. 

That  the  hardshii^s  and  privations  to  which  Gulf-coast  cattle  are 
subjected  in  being  transported  to  New  Orleans,  and  up  the  Mississippi 
in  steamers,  may  act  as  existing  causes  to  the  full  development  of  fatal 
symptoms,  is  probable;  but  such  and  similar  lUTJudicial  influences 
do  not,  and  cannot,  engender  the  disease.  They  may  facilitate  intelli- 
gent observations;  and  a  competent  veterinarian,  inspecting  the  dead 
and  injured  cattle  taken  into  the  port  of  New  Orleans,  or  landed  at 
Cairo,  might  add  very  largely  to  our  store  of  knowledge  on  this  and 
allied  subjects.  Such  inspection  might  be  of  value  in  securing  the 
isolation  of  badly  infected  herds,  inasnuich  as  ordinary  observers  have 
noticed,  where  opportunities  were  aiibrded  for  seeing  many  herds  from 
the  Gulf  Coast,  that  some  were  a])])arently  sound,  and  others  nund)cred 
many  sick  and  <lying  animals.  Wherever  such  cattle  are  landed,  there 
should  be  a  sullicient  amount  of  closely  fenced  land,  beyond  which  the 
cattle  should  not  be  permitted  to  pass  on  foot.  They  might  be  trans- 
ported thence  by  I'ail,  but  only  to  definite  points  for  immediate  slaughter, 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  131 

or  to  certain  stations  on  railroad  lands,  where  they  can  be  placed  alone, 
and  without  coming  in  contact  with  other  cattle. 

There  are  serious  impediments  in  the  way,  which  may  prevent  the 
adoption  of  the  last  suggestion ;  but,  having  stated  the  principles  which 
should  govern  legislation  in  this  matter,  we  must  leave  the  practical 
working  of  any  well-matured  scheme  to  those  whose  interests  are  at 
stake.  Thus,  if  the  stock  taken  from  the  cars  at  Tolono  (and  which 
destroyed  almost  every  cow  owned  there)  by  the  inhabitants  had  been 
unloaded  in  inclosed  yards  at  a  distance  from  the  town,  and  then  driven 
through  a  fenced  road  on  which  no  other  cattle  were  permitted  to  pass, 
they  would  have  caused  no  loss.  It  must  be  left  to  local  authorities  to 
state  whence,  when,  and  how  such  stock  shall  be  driven  to  secure  such 
isolation ;  and  it  will  probably  be  found  most  practicable,  under  such 
circumstances,  to  limit  the  traveling  of  Texan  cattle  on  foot  to  the 
winter  season  when  the  grasses  are  withered  and  the  local  stock  is 
tended  at  home.  Indeed,  if  a  dehnite  tract  of  prairie  ground  is  devoted 
anywhere  to  the  Texan  trade,  the  conditions  required  for  the  prevention 
of  splenic  fever  consist  in  the  people  keeping  their  cattle  on  their  own 
inclosed  farms,  or  in  well-fenced  yards  and  feeding  sheds. 

A  visit  to  the  far  west  will  convince  any  impartial  person  that  judg- 
ment and  enterprise  can  be  exercised  with  a  certainty  of  success  in 
enabling  Texan  drovers  to  drive  to  points  on  the  Union  Paciiic  road, 
eastern  division,  where  they  can  do  no  harm.  Traveling  north  from 
Texas  through  the  Indian  Nation  into  Western  Kansas  can  intiict  no 
injury.  With  the  completion  of  the  Union  Pacific  road  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, it  is  not  improbable  that  drovers  may  find  it  to  their  advantage 
to  drive  further  than  they  usually  do  now,  and  make  for  other  stations; 
but,  whatever  course  they  adopt  in  this  respect,  they  can  safely  relieve 
the  overstocked  State  of  Texas  by  utilizing  the  vast  prairies  of  the  west 
in  their  important  trade. 

The  question  to  settle  is  whether  they  should  travel  earlier  in  the 
season  or  later.  It  is  my  opinion  that,  if  they  wish  to  hear  no  more  of 
splenic  fever,  they  should  reach  Western  Kansas  in  the  summer  or  in 
early  autumn,  keeping  their  stock  fresh  on  the  abundant  grasses,  and 
shipping  it  east  when  the  packing  season  commences,  about  the  middle 
of  October.  An  experiment  on  a  large  scale  has  been  made  by  Messrs. 
McCoy  Brothers,  at  Abilene.  This  spot  on  the  eastern  division  of  the 
Union  Pacific  road  was  selected  as  the  most  isolated,  and  it  is  situated 
within  four  hundred  miles  of  the  Texan  frontier,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty-three  miles  west  from  the  State  line. 

It  is  east  of  the  sixth  meridian,  which  is  the  line  established  by  the 
laws  of  Kansas  as  the  limit  over  which  Texan  cattle  slmll  not  pass ;  but,  by 
common  consent,  the  advantages  offered  by  this  spot  have  been  hitherto 
secured  to  the  Texan  trade.  The  yards  were  completed  by  the  oth  of 
September,  18G7,  and  from  that  time  to  the  close  of  the  season,  one 
thousand  car  loads  of  cattle  were  shipped  east  from  Abilene.     The  trade, 


132  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICILTURE. 

therefore,  began  late,  tbe  season  was  wet,  and  the  Texas  fever  gave  no 
concern. 

This  year,  however,  hirge  herds  were  collected  early  in  the  sjning  in 
Texas,  and  the  lirst  car  load  of  cattle  left  Abilene  on  the  lOth  of  June. 

The  people  of  the  new  town  and  its  neighborhood  had  accuuiulated 
more  live  stock  than  they  had  last  year,  and,  withont  taking  the  precau- 
tion Avhieh  could  readily  have  been  adopted,  permitted  their  cattle  to  go 
over  the  ground  traversed  by  Texans,  and  black  water  appeared  among 
them. 

It  is  evident  that,  as  the  property  of  a  very  large  and  important  town 
may  be  founded  on  this  very  traffic,  precautionary  measures  should  be 
adopted  for  the  isolation  of  the  local  stock.  There  can  be  no  difficulty 
in  this ;  and,  with  the  exi)erience  of  18G7  before  us,  the  system  of 
driving  late  for  the  fall  markets  is  calculated  to  preserve  the  most 
promising  of  all  outlets  for  southern  farmers  and  drovers.  There  are 
objections,  perhaps,  to  this  plan ;  but,  since  it  is  impossible  for  the 
trade  to  go  on  in  a  reckless  and  ill-regulated  manner,  it  is  for  the 
interest  of  all  that  the  least  objectionable  plan,  and  yet  the  one  most 
certain  to  prevent  the  ravages  by  disease,  should  be  adopted. 

We  are  not  in  a  position  to  recommend  any  system  of  quarantine ; 
but  all  who  intend  to  further  the  interests  of  this  trade  should  remember 
that  during  the  summer  season  they  cannot,  without  damaging  their 
business,  intermingle  southern  with  northwestern  stock. 

The  line  of  demarcation  must  be  distinct;  and  whereas  in  some 
places  the  local  stock  nuist  be  fenced  in,  in  others  the  Texan  steers  will 
have  to  submit  to  some  crowding,  aud  conditions  which  are  not  the  most 
favorable  for  so  large  a  trade. 


APPENDIX. 

POST-MORTEM  APPEARANCES. 

Observation  I,  Jnly  30,  ISOS.— lied  cow ;  the  property  of  IMr.  A.  J. 
Moore,  of  Tolono,  killed  by  bleeding.  Blood  flowed  freely,  and  was  of 
a  bright  arterial  hue.  The  skin  was  removed  and  the  respirat(ny  organs 
first  examined,  and  found  in  a  normal  state.  The  peri(!ardium  was 
opened,  and  its  retlected  portion  was  sound.  The  heart  of  normal  size 
and  consistency,  but  studded  with  punctiform  extravasations  of  blood 
around  the  apex,  on  the  left  auricular  ai)pendix.  The  right  cavities 
were  found  empty  and  normal.  The  left  were  also  em])ty,  but  there  was 
extensivi^  discoloration  of  the  endocardium  over  the  Heshy  i)ill:iis  and 
the  sei»tnm.  It  was  of  an  alternate  pur[)le  and  blood-red  tint,  and  o,i 
cutting  througli  the  endocardium  it  was  fouyd  infiltrated  with  blood. 
This  infiltration  extended  in  some  parts  to  a  sixteenth  of  an  inch  in 
depth  beneath  the  serous  membrane. 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  133 

The  month,  fauces,  oesophagus,  and  the  first  three  stomachs,  were 
health.y.  The  fonrth  stomach  contained  a  greenisli  liqnid,  and  its  mncous 
snrface  was  intensely  reddened,  with  the  exception  of  antrum  pylori, 
which  retained  its  normal  color. 

The  folds  of  the  cardiac  end  were  thickly  studded  with  ecchymoses, 
which  appeared  to  have  coalesced,  and  the  membrane  had  in  many  parts 
given  Avay,  so  as  to  induce  the  appearance  of  small,  irregular  ulcerations. 
There  was  no  thickening  around  the  ulcers,  nor  evidence  of  progressive 
ulcerated  change,  but  the  solutions  of  continuity  seemed  due  to  the  dis- 
charge of  epithelium  and  death  of  the  subjacent  membrane  in  the  center 
of  the  bloody  extravasations. 

The  duodenum  was  of  a  deep  yellow,  bile-tinged  color.  The  jejunum 
and  ileum  were  carefully  examined  throughout  their  whole  extent,  and 
found  reddened.     Peyer's  glands  were  healthy. 

The  caecum  was  reddened  around  the  ileocolic  opening,  and  the  colon 
had  irregular  patches  of  congestion.  In  the  rectum  blood  extravasations 
were  found  all  along  the  free  margin  of  the  folds. 

The  spleen  was  of  a  deep  purple  hue,  weight  seven  and  one-half  pounds ; 
and  its  structure  was  so  disintegrated  that  a  black  mass  of  pulp  oozed  out 
of  the  incisions;  and  with  the  slightest  force  nothing  remained  intact  but 
the  trabeculte. 

The  liver  and  gall  bladder  weighed  twenty-seven  and  one-half  pounds. 
They  were  congested,  but  otherwise  apparently  healthy.  The  liver 
afforded  indications  of  fatty  change. 

The  kidneys  were  of  a  dark  color,  and  contained  bloody  urine  in  the 
pelves.  The  urinary  bladder  was  enormously  distended  with  dark, 
blood-colored  urine,  and  weighed  with  its  contents  nineteen  pounds. 
The  uterus  was  healthy,  and  contained  a  foetus  about  a  month  old. 

The  brain  and  spinal  cord  were  carefully  examined.  The  meninges 
were  generally  congested,  and  the  posterior  part  of  the  cord,  when  cut 
across,  indicated  very  decided  redness  of  the  superior  coruua  of  gray 
matter. 

Observation  II,  July  30,  18GS.— Cow ;  the  property  of  Mr.  C.  B.  Cham- 
berlain, of  Tolono.    This  animal  was  also  bled  to  death  and  skinned. 

The  thoracic  organs  were  found  quite  healthy. 

The  first  and  the  second  stomach  were  likewise  normal ;  but  the  third 
was  somewhat  inordiimtely  distendiHl  by  dry  food,  firmly  impacted 
between  its  folds.     The  folds  themselves  were  sound. 

The  fourth  stomach  was  congested  throughout,  but  its  folds,  at  the 
cardiac  end,  were  of  a  deep,  modena-red  hue.  In  the  vicinity  of  the 
pylorus  were  a  couple  of  small  patches  of  erosions  of  the  mucous  mem- 
brane. 

The  small  intestine  was  the  seat  of  ramified  redness  throughout  its 
entire  length.  In  the  large  intestine,  from  the  cuH'um  to  the  rectum, 
there  was  a  dark,  inky-looking  deposit  of  blood  along  the  free  edge  of 
the  mucous  folds,  and  between  these,  at  points,  the  membrane  was  con- 


134  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

siderably  conj?estod.     The  liver  was  mucli  congested,  fatty,  aud  weighed 
twenty-one  pounds. 

The  spleen  was  of  a  purple  hue,  its  tissues  undergoing  disintegration, 
and  it  weighed  two  and  one-half  pounds. 

Tlie  kidneys  were  dark  colored,  and  the  bladder  largely  distended 
with  bloody  urine. 

The  spinal  cord  only  of  this  animal  was  examined,  and  the  gray  mat- 
ter found  of  a  dark  red  color  in  the  jiosterior  part  adjoining  the  cauda 
equina. 

Observation  III,  July  31,  1868. — Two-year-old  steer;  the  property  of 
Mr.  Mathews,  near  Tolono.  Examined  three  hours  after  death.  ^Marked 
cadaveric  rigidity.  Organs  of  resj^iration  healthy.  The  heart,  of  nor- 
mal size  and  firmness,  was  extensively  ecchymosed  on  its  outer  surface, 
especially  down  the  anterior  and  the  posterior  ventricular  furrows.  The 
right  cavities  contained  a  small  amount  of  blood.  The  left  were  empty, 
but  the  fleshy  pillars  were  of  a  deep  purplish  tint  from  extensive  ecchy- 
mosis. 

The  mouth,  pharynx,  oesophagus,  the  first  and  the  second  stomach, 
were  healthy.  The  third  stomacli  was  considerably  distended  by  dry 
food.  The  fourth  stomach  was  the  seat  of  diffuse  redness  over  its  entire 
mucous  surface,  but  the  depth  of  color  was  greatest  at  the  cardiac  end. 
Freely  dispersed  over  the  surface  were  small,  circumscribed  erosions 
with  red  areolse  round  them  ;  and  these  evidently  resulted  from  ecchy- 
motic  patches,  which  sloughed  in  their  centers.  In  the  pyloric  end 
were  several  irregular  j)atches  of  cuticular  degenerations.  The  green 
contents  of  the  stomach  adhered  to  the  denuded  surfaces. 

The  jejunum  was  the  seat  of  ramified  redness  over  its  mucous  surface, 
and  a  similar  congestion  i)artially  afltected  the  ileum  and  large  intestine. 
The  liver  was  normal  in  size  and  general  aspect. 

The  spleen  was  of  a  dark  i)urple  tint,  about  three  times  its  natural 
size,  and  its  pulj)  softened. 

The  kidneys  were  turgid  with  blood,  and  the  urinary  bladder  much 
distended  with  bloody  urine. 

Observation  TV,  August  1,  1808. — Seven-year-old  steer;  the  property 
of  L.  D.  Ayers,  of  Farina.  This  animal  was  first  seen  ill  on  Thursday,  the 
30th  of  July,  and  died  at  noon  on  the  1st  of  August.  Eespiratory  pas- 
sages healthy.  On  opening  the  chest  it  was  noticed  that  the  Inngs  were 
only  partially  collapsed.  They  had  rather  a  blanched  ai)pearance,  and, 
on  removal  from  the  chest,  it  was  found  that  through  the  posterior  lobes, 
and  all  along  the  upper  aspect  to  the  anterior  lobes  of  the  lungs,  there 
was  well-nuirked  interlobular  emphysema.  Incisions  in  various  ])arts  of 
the  emphysematous  tissue  indicated  the  normal  asi>ect  of  the  lobules, 
with  free  extravasation  of  air  in  the  connective  tissue  around  them. 
The  hiiigs  weighed  fifteen  pounds.  Tlie  mediastinal  reflections  of  the 
pleura  were  densely  studded  with  e(;chymoses,  and  the  same  appearance 
I)ervaded  the  pleural  portions  of  the  same  membrane.     The  pericardial 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  135 

sac  contained  a  little  yellow  serum ;  and  the  heart,  of  normal  size,  was 
extensively  ecchymosed  around  the  base  of  both  ventricles.  The  right 
side  contained  a  small  quantity  of  partially  clotted  blood;  and  the  left 
ventricle,  also  containing-  a  little  dark  blood,  was  the  seat  of  extensive 
ecchymoses  over  nearly  the  whole  of  its  inner  aspect. 

The  alimentary  canal,  from  the  mouth  to  the  third  stomach,  was  in  a 
normal  state.  Tlie  contents  of  the  third  stomach  were  soft,  and  moder- 
ate in  quantity. 

The  cardiac  end  of  the  fourth  stomach  was  of  a  dark  red  color,  and 
its  folds  thickly  studded  with  small  yellowish  elevations,  having  the 
appearance  of  vesicles,  but  solid,  and  apparently  consisting  in  opaque 
epithelial  enlargements.  The  pyloric  end  was  of  normal  color  and  free 
from  erosions  or  other  signs  of  disease. 

The  small  intestines,  of  a  i)inkisli  hue  externally,  were  intensely 
reddened  on  their  mucous  surface.  There  was  general  capillary  con- 
gestion, and  the  ramified  character  of  the  red  tinge  was  most  marked. 
One  of  Peyer's  glands  had  an  elevated  and  somewhat  thickened  appear- 
ance. The  color  was  rather  less  deep  than  the  adjacent  membrane,  and 
on  making  an  incision  into  it  there  was  no  evidence  of  deposit  beneath 
it,  or  noteworthy  change  in  structure. 

In  the  coBcum  a  very  marked  ecchymosis  surrounded  the  ileocolic 
opening,  and  several  marked  blood  extravasations,  well  circumscribed 
and  limited  in  extent,  existed  in  the  colon  and  rectum.  The  liver  and 
gall  bladder  weighed  twenty-nine  pounds.  The  structure  of  the  liver  was 
congested,  and  betokened  active  changes  in  the  shape  of  fatty  degener- 
ation. 

The  spleen  was  dark,  friable,  and  weighed  eight  pounds.  The  two 
kidneys  weighed  four  and  one-quarter  pounds,  and  were  of  a  dark  red 
color.  The  bladder  was  much  distended  with  bloody  urine.  Its  mucous 
membrane  was  congested  at  the  fundus. 

The  cranium  was  opened  and  its  entire  contents  found  abnormally 
vascular.  On  removing  the  brain  the  dura  mater  was  found  studded 
with  bright  vermillion  blood  spots,  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  pin's 
head.  The  medulla  oblongata  was  healthy.  The  gray  matter  in  the 
cerebelluni  was  of  a  very  decided  reddish  hue;  but  the  consistence  of 
both  white  and  gray  matter  appeared  normal.  The  cerebrum  showed 
very  marked  puncta  vasculosa  on  making  horizontal  sections  of  its 
hemispheres. 

Observation  V,  August  1,  1SG8. — Red  cow ;  the  property  of  S.  F. 
Eandolph,  of  Farina.  Died  at  2  p.  m.,  and  examined  at  5  p.  m.  Cadav- 
eric rigidity  marked.  Eespiratory  passages  healthy.  On  opening  the 
chest  it  was  found  that  the  right  lung  collai)sed  imperfectly;  it  was 
jialish,  and  the  seat  of  interlobular  emphysema  on  its  upper  border,  and 
between  the  middle  and  the  inferior  lobe.  The  left  lung  was  somewhat 
ecchymosed.  On  the  surface  of  half  a  do/en  lobules  there  was  a  dark, 
flea-bitten  api)earauce,  which  corresponded  with  considerable  conges- 


136  DErARTMI<:NT    OF    AGRICULTUKE. 

tion  of  the  lmi<»-  tissue  within.  The  structure  floated  on  water,  and  was 
certainly  free  from  intianiniatory  deposit.  The  luiijj;s  weij^lied  twelve 
])ounds.  The  heart,  of  normal  size  and  consistence,  was  freely  ecchy- 
mosed  over  its  entire  outer  surface.  The  ri;u;ht  ventricle  contained  a 
little  frothy  blood,  but  was  not  blood-stained.  The  left  ventricle  also 
contained  a  little  dark  tluid  blood,  and  was  free  from  ecchymoses.  On 
opening-  the  left  auricular  appendix,  it  was  found  studded  with  puncti- 
form  i)etechiix,\  Alimentary  canal,  all  anterior  to  the  fourth  stomach 
Avas  healthy,  but  this  organ  was  of  a  dee])  red  color  over  the  mucous 
folds  of  the  cardiac  end.  The  antrum  pylori  was  studded  over  its 
entire  surface  with  irregular  erosions,  exceeding  twenty  in  number. 
Koue  of  these  had  the  granular  surface  or  peculiar  edges  of  true  ulcers, 
but  looked  like  abrasions,  the  epithelium  having  been  removed  and  the 
reddened  mucous  surface  more  or  less  discolored  by  adherent  vegetable 
matter,  constituting  the  base  of  the  solutions  of  continuity.  The  duode- 
num was  of  a  dark  yellow  color,  and  the  areolar  tissue  around  it  was 
oedematous.  The  whole  internal  surface  of  the  small  intestines  was  the 
seat  of  ramified  redness,  with  marked  ecchymoses  scattered  in  large 
numbers  through  out.  Some  of  blood-stained  spots  have  sloughed  in  their 
centers.  The  ileo-colic  fold  was  blackened  and  tumefied,  and  the  longi- 
tudinal mucous  folds  in  the  colon  and  rectum  were  stained  with 
blackened  blood  extravasations.  The  liver  and  gall  bladder,  to  all 
appearances  in  a  healthy  state,  weighed  nineteen  pounds. 

The  spleen,  of  a  dark  color,  with  a  deep  red  pulp  which  oozed  out  of 
incisions  made  through  the  capsule,  weighed  five  pounds  and  four  ounces- 
The  kidneys  weighed  two  pounds,  but,  with  the  exception  of  urine  of  a 
port-wine  color  in  the  pelvis  of  each,  appeared  sound.  The  bladder  was 
distended  with  bloody  urine,  but  its  coats  were  of  a  healthy  color.  The 
cranial  contents  appeared  rather  unusually  vascular,  but  otherwise 
healthy.     The  spinal  cord  was  not  examined. 

Observation  VI,  August  G,  18G8. — Three  year  old  cow  ;  the  property 
of  G.  F.  Byers,  of  Sodorus.  Died  the  night  previous  to  the  examination. 
Ko  cadaveric  rigidity.  Decomposition  commenced.  On  removing  the 
skin  it  was  found  that  effusion  had  taken  place  under  the  sternum.  The 
organs  of  respiration  were  found  healthy.  The  heart  was  somewhat 
soitened  from  incipient  decay  ;  b.oth  outer  and  inner  surlace  were  the 
seat  of  cadaveric  blood-staining.  The  entire  alinu^itary  canal  was  found 
normal,  and  free  from  congestion,  ecchymoses,  or  erosions.  The  liver  also 
was  sound.  The  spleen,  much  enlarged,  probably  four  times  its  natural 
size,  was  soitened  at  its  base,  and  blood  had  tiowed  freely  out  during 
the  life  of  the  animal,  as  clots  and  licpiid  Itlood  droi)i)ed  out  of  the  ix'rito- 
neum  when  it  was  fii-st  oi)eiied.  Tiie  kidneys  were  normal,  and  the 
bladder  wondeifiilly  distended  by  clear-colored  urine.  It  is  worthy  of 
note  that  this  cow  had  been  noticed  to  be  sick  for  two  days,  but  dis- 
charged clear  urine  on  the  evening-  of  the  5th,  and  did  not  then  appear 
in  a  dyinj;  state.      She  succumbed  suddenly  and  unexpectedl}-  during 


SPLENIC    OR   PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  137 

the  uigbt ;  and,  as  tlie  post  mortem  indicated,  from  liemorrliage  from  the 

spleen. 

Observation  VII,  August  7,  18G8.— Steer;  the  property  of  Mr.  P.Har- 
ris, of  Champaign.  Organs  of  respiration  healthy.  General  aspect  of 
heart  normal.  Right  cavities  containing  a  little  blood,  and  free  from 
ecchymoses  On  the  fleshy  pillars  of  the  left  ventricle  there  was  marked 
and  diflused  extravasations  of  blood.  The  anterior  part  of  the  ali- 
mentary canal,  as  far  down  as  the  third  stomach,  was  quite  normal. 
The  fourth  stomach  was  slightly  reddened ;  and,  at  the  cardiac  end,  the 
folds  were  studded  with  small,  yellowish  eminences,  as  described  in  a 
previous  case.  The  pyloric  end  was  the  seat  of  marked  and  numerous 
erosions.  The  intestinal  tract  was  quite  healthy,  with  the  exception  of 
slight  redness  of  the  nnicous  surface  of  the  small  intestine. 
The  liver  and  gall  bladder  were  nornml. 

The  spleen  was  at  least  twice  its  natiual  size,  of  a  dark  color,  and  soft- 
ened structure. 

The  kidneys  were  dark-colored  from  congestion,  and  the  bladder  very 
much  distended  with  urine  of  port- wine  color. 

On  severing  the  head  from  the  neck,  it  was  found  that  around  the 
dura  nniter,  in  the  foramen  magnum,  there  was  an  exudation  of  yellowish 
lymph,  studded  with  numerous  confluent  petechia  of  a  very  dark  color. 
On  removing  the  brain  it  was  found  of  normal  consistence.  The  spinal 
cord  in  the  dorsal  and  the  lumbar  region  was  reddened,  especially  in  the 
upper  horns  of  its  gray  matter. 

Observation  VIII,  August  7,  1SG8.— Steer;  also  the  property  of  Mr.  . 
P.  Harris,  of  Champaign.  Killed  for  the  purpose  of  dissection.  Organs 
of  respiration  healthy  throughout.  Heart  slightly  ecchyrnosed  on  the 
outer  surface  of  the  ventricles.  The  right  side  contained  a  small  quan- 
tity of  fluid  blood,  with  slender  clots  somewhat  adherent  to  the  auriculo- 
ventricular  valves.     Left  ventricle  empty  and  healthy. 

Pharynx,  gullet,  the  first  and  the  second  stomach,  healthy.  The  third 
stomach  impacted  with  dry  food.  The  fourth  stomach  of  a  deep  red 
color  over  its  cardiac  folds,  and  studded  somewhat  with  small,  grayish 
eminences  of  the  size  of  ordinary  pins'  heads.  The  mucous  surface  of 
the  pyloric  end,  wherever  it  was  whole,  was  of  normal  color;  but  it  was 
freely  spotted  with  very  distinct  erosions  of  irregvdar  shape,  dark  in 
the  center;  and  the  largest  of  these  was  on  the  pyloric  gland  and 
extending  on  the  transverse  fold  at  the  pyloric  -opening.  The  duode- 
num, and  indeed  the  entire  small  intestine,  was  found  with  the  mucous 
surface  congested.  The  ctecum,  colon  and  rectum,  throughout  their 
entire  length,  were  reddened  within,  and  ecchymoses  were  freely  dis- 
tributed over  their  whole  interior.  The  liver  and  gall  bladder  were 
normal. 

The  si)loen  was  dark  colored,  soft,  and  thrice  its  natural   size.     The 
kidneys  were  somewhat  congested,  and  the  urinary  bladder,  though 


138  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

presenting?  no  abnoiinal  ai)pearance  of  its  coats,  was  distended  with 
bloody  mine. 

Observation  IX,  Anji'nst  8,  1808. — Small  two-year-old  steer;  the 
l»roi)erty  ol"  .Mr.  Frank  Peters,  Scott  townsliip,  six  miles  west  of  Cliam- 
l)ai^n.  Had  died  the  i)revions  nij^ht,  and  presented  the  unnsnal  apjtear- 
ance  of  dried,  clotted  drops  of  blood,  each  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary 
drop  of  water,  freely  distributed  over  the  neck,  tianks,  body,  and  limbs. 

Orj>ans  of  respiration  healthy.  Heart  beginning'  to  decomiK)se,  but 
showing  no  signs  of  disease.  First  three  stomachs  healthy.  The  fourth 
stomach  was  slightly  reddened  at  its  cardiac  end;  but  its  folds  were 
thickly  studded  with  snuill,  grayish  eminences,  having  the  general 
appearance  of  a  vesicular  eruption.  The  color  of  the  mucous  surface 
of  the  pyloric  antrum  was  healthy,  with  the  exception  of  two  small, 
irregular  erosions.  The  small  and  the  large  intestine  were  entirely  free 
from  congestion  or  other  indications  of  disease.  The  liver  and  gall 
bladder  w  ere  sound,  and  weighed  eleven  pounds.  The  spleen  was  freely 
ecchymosed  on  its  surface,  soft  and  enlarged,  weighing  three  and  a  half 
pounds.  The  kidneys  were  dark  colored,  and  beginning  to  decompose. 
The  bladder  was  healthy  and  much  distended  with  bloody  urine.  The 
brain  and  spinal  cord  were  healthy. 

Observation  X,  August  8, 1808. — Four-year-old  cow,  belonging  to  the 
same  proprietor  as  the  last  steer. 

On  opening  the  chest  it  was  found  that  the  lungs  collapsed  imper- 
fectly; and  that  on  their  dorsal  aspect,  especially  of  their  posterior 
lobes,  there  was  very  marked  interlobular  emphysema. 

The  external  aspect  of  the  heart  was  normal.  Tlie  right  cavities  were 
full  of  dark  blood,  and  indicated  cadaveric  blood-staiuiug  of  the  endo- 
cardium. The  left  ventricle,  also,  contained  uuich  dark  blood;  and  its 
free  wall,  as  well  as  the  coluinnaj  carnete,  was  extensively  ecchymosed. 

The  first  three  stomachs  wxre  healthy.  The  fourth  w^as  the  seat  of 
ramified  redness  on  the  mucous  folds,  at  the  cardiac  end  ;  and  numer- 
ous punctiform  eminences  of  yellowish  color  gave  the  eruptive  appear- 
ance, noticed  in  i)revious  post-mortem  examinations.  The  pyloric  end 
was  normal,  and  free  from  erosions. 

Both  the  large  and  the  small  intestine  were  (luite  normal. 

The  liver  was  swollen  as  the  result  of  decomposition,  and  the  gall- 
bladder was  distended  with  normal  bile. 

The  spleen,  of  a  dark  purplish  tint  and  friable  structure,  weighed  five 
pounds. 

TIic  kidneys  were  congested,  and  the  urinary  bladder  distended  with 
bloody  urine. 

On  severing  the  head  from  the  neck,  a  considerable  (puintity  of  bloody 
serum  flowed  out  of  the  meninges.  The  cranial  contents  were  somewhat 
congested,  but  otherwise  healthy. 

Observation  XI,  ^Vugust  8, 1808. — Three-year-old  steer;  the  property 
of  Mr. ,  of  Champaign.     Killed  by  division  of  spinal  cord. 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  139 

Organs  of  respiration  liealthy. 

Heart  of  normal  appearance,  with  the  exception  of  slight  ecchyinoses 
in  the  left  ventricle. 

Moutli,  tauces,  gullet,  and  first  three  stomachs  healthy.  Fourth  stom- 
ach of  a  dark  red  color  over  the  folds  at  the  cardiac  end,  which  were 
thickly  studded  with  small,  circular  ecchymoses ;  and,  wherever  these 
congregated,  the  epithelium  was  detached,  and  the  membrane  exposed 
of  a  brownish  red  color. 

Many  of  the  isolated  ecchymoses  had  abrasions  in  their  centers  ;  and 
the  red  areol*  around  the  erosions  sometimes  spread  out  irregularly. 
The  abraded  surface,  in  various  parts,  had  the  green  contents  of  the 
stomach  iirraly  adhering  to  them.  The  pyloric  end  was,  to  great  extent, 
free  from  congestion,  but  was  studded  witli  erosions  and  zigzag  fissures. 

Three  of  the  abraded  spots  were  much  larger  than  the  rest,  extending 
to  an  inch  and  a  half,  and  one  to  three  inches,  in  length,  by  an  inch  and 
an  inch  and  a  half  in  breadth. 

Over  the  larger  abrasions  a  scab  had  formed,  to  which  the  food  was 
adherent.  The  irregular  nlcers  of  the  edges  were  red,  but  fiat,  and  with- 
out tending  to  thickening  or  erosions. 

The  small  intestine  was  congested  throughout  the  fundus  of  the 
cfecum,  of  a  deep  red  color;  and  over  the  whole  mucons  surface  of  the 
colon  there  was  ramified  redness. 

In  the  rectum  there  was  blood  extravasation  in  the  substance  of  the 
mucous  membrane,  along  the  margin  of  the  longitudinal  folds. 

The  liver  and  gall  bladder  weighed  twenty-one  and  a  half  pounds,  but 
offered  no  sign  of  morbid  lesion,  beyond  fatty  change  in  the  gland. 

The  spleen,  .of  a  dark  color,  with  softened  pulp,  weighed  five  and  a  half 
pounds. 

Tlie  kidneys  were  turgid  with  blood,  and  the  urinary  bladder  much 
distended  by  bloody  urine. 

The  cerebrospinal  centers  were  healthy. 

Observation  XII,  August  11,  18G8.— Eed  cow  ;  the  property  of  L.  E. 
Hastings,  Chicago.  This  cow  had 'been  sick  about  a  week,  and  was 
killed,  by  effusions  of  blood,  for  the  purpose  of  dissection. 

The  organs  of  respiration,  the  organs  of  deglutition,  and  first  stomach 
were  healthy.  The  second  stomach  contained  many  foreign  objects,  such 
as  nails  and  wires;  and  one  considerable  piece  of  iron  wire  perforated 
the  fundus.  The  mucous  membrane  was  of  a  dull,  dirty-red  color  over 
its  whole  surface. 

The  third  stomach  was  healthy.  The  fourth  stomach,  reddened  at  its 
cardiac  end,  was  studded,  over  the  whole  of  its  transverse  folds,  with 
grayish-yellow  eminences  of  the  size  of  an  ordinary  pin's  head,  as  ])re- 
viously  described.  The  pyloric  eiul  was  also  somewhat  congested,  but 
studded  throughout  with  irregular  idcers,  four  of  which  were  of  consid- 
erable size,  and  near  the  intestinal  opening.    There  was  ramified  red- 


140  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

ness  tliroii^^liout  the  whole  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  tlie  small  intes- 
tine. 

The  ileocolic;  valve  was  ecchymosed,  and  ecchymoses  were  scattered 
over  the  whole  fundus  of  the  ca'cum.  The  inner  lining  of  the  colon  and 
rectum  was  con.i;ested.  The  liver  and  gall  bladder  appeared  generally 
healthy,  with  the  exception  of  some  congestion  of  the  gland  and  fatty 
degeneration.  The  spleen  was  much  enlarged  and  thicker  in  the  center 
than  iu  any  previously  examined  case.  It  weighed  seven  and  one-half 
pounds. 

Organs  of  respiration  healthy.  The  heart  was  slightly  ecchymosed  on 
its  outer  surface.  The  right  cavities  were  full  of  frothy  blood,  and  ecchy- 
mosed on  the  free  wall. 

The  left  ventricle  was  empty,  and  infiltrations  of  blood  in  and  beneath 
the  endocardium  existed  on  the  fleshy  pillars  and  the  septum. 

The  kidneys  were  much  congested.  On  cutting  into  the  pelvis  of  each 
kidney,  the  mucous  lining  was  found  densely  studded  with  ecchymoses, 
as  seen  in  the  illustration.* 

The  bladder  was  filled  with  dark  urine.  The  mucous  lining  was  dot- 
ted all  over  with  small,  veiniilion,  punctiform  ecchymoses,  as  delineated 
iu  plate.  The  uterus  was  studded  over  its  horns  with  small  ecchymotic 
spots,  similar  to  those  on  the  inner  surface  of  the  bladder,  as  indicated 
by  plate.  The  cerebral  meninges  were  slightly  congested,  and  the 
arachnoid  sac  contained  an  excess  of  serum.  The  gray  matter  of  the 
medulla  oblongata  was  reddened.  On  cutting  into  the  cerebellum  its 
gray  centers  were  found  ecchymosed,  and  similar  well-marked  extrava- 
sations of  blood  existed  in  the  gray  matter  of  the  crura  cerebri.  In  other 
respects  the  brain  appeared  healthy. 

Observation  XIII,  August  12,  1SG8. — Red  and  white  cow ;  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  King,  of  Bridgeport;  was  killed  by  effusion  of  blood.  The 
organs  of  resi)iratiou  were  found  health3\  The  heart  was  of  normal  size, 
but  slightly  ecchymosed  at  the  apex,  and  the  outer  surface  of  the  left 
auricular  appendix  was  of  a  uniform  dark  blood  color,  as  seen  in  plate. 

The  organs  of  deglutition  and  the  rumen  were  healthy.  The  mucous 
membrane  of  the  reticulum  was  throughout  of  a  dull,  port-wine  color. 
The  third  stomach  was  normal.  The  fourth  stomach  was  the  seat  of 
diffuse  redness  throughout,  with  an  irregular  abrasion  near  the  pylorus. 
The  small  intestine  was  reddened  in  every  part,  and  the  large  intestine 
ecchymosed  in  the  caecum,  and  towards  the  end  of  the  rectum. 

The  liver  and  gall  bladder  were  healthy.  The  spleen  was  at  least  four 
times  its  natural  size,  of  a  dark  purplish  tint,  and  its  structure  disinte- 
grated. 

Tlie  kidneys  were  dark  col<)re<l  ami  congested.  The  bladder  enor- 
mously distended  with  bloody  urine.     The  brain  and  its  meninges  gave 

*Tliis  iiiid  till!  fdllowiiijf  lutticfs  reior  t(»  tli<!  luicroiihoto^riiplis  iii;i<li'  under  tlicdiivc- 
tion  of  I'nvi't  Liciifcnant  CohnuAJ.J.  Woodward,  UniU-d  States  army,  which  arc  not 
published  iu  this  edition  of  the  report. 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  141 

signs  of  intense  congestion,  and  the  puncta  vascnlosa  of  the  cerebrum 
were  very  marked. 

Observation  XIY,  August  13,  ISGS. — Red  steer ;  the  property  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Heath,  near  Oxford ;  killed  for  dissection. 

Organs  of  respiration  healthy.  Heart  healthy  and  free  from  petechiii". 
The  mouth,  pharynx,  ojsophagus,  and  tirst  three  stomachs  were  found 
healthy.  The  cardiac  end  of  the  fourth  stomach  was  of  a  deep  red  color, 
some  of  the  folds  ecchymosed,  and  some  of  the  dark  centers  of  the  ec- 
chymoses  had  sloughed.  The  pyloric  end  was  much  less  congested, 
but  its  entire  surface  more  or  less  abraded. 

The  exposed  vascular  membrane  was  of  a  dark  red  color,  and  the  food 
firmly  adhering  to  it. 

Both  small  and  large  intestine  indicated  some  congestion  of  the 
mucous  lining. 

The  liver  was  considerably  enlarged,  much  engorged  with  blood,  ami 
was  fatty. 

The  spleen  weighed  five  and  a  half  i^ounds,  was  dark  in  color,  and 
friable  in  consistence. 

The  kidneys  were  congested,  and  the  bladder  largely  distended  with 
bloody  urine. 

Observation  XV,  August  14,1868. — Red  steer;  the  property  of  same 
owner ;  also  killed  for  dissection. 

With  the  exception  of  slight  ecchymoses  of  the  pleura  on  the  anterior 
lobe  of  the  left  lung,  the  organs  of  respiration  offered  no  indications  of 
disease. 

The  heart  was  of  normal  size,  but  appeared  more  flabby  than  in  health. 
The  right  cavities  contained  a  little  fluid  blood,  and  the  columnae  car- 
neiTB  of  the  ventricle  were  slightly  ecchymosed.  The  blood-staining  of 
the  endocardium  was  much  marked  on  the  fleshy  pillars  of  the  left  ven- 
tricle. 

The  organs  of  deglutition,  the  first,  the  second,  and  the  third  stom- 
ach, were  quite  healthy.  The  fourth  stomach  not  quite  so  much  con- 
gested as  usual,  but  its  cardiac  folds  were  studded  with  very  numerous 
ecchymoses,  many  of  which  were  perforated  in  their  centers.  The  pylo- 
ric end  was  also  somewhat  congested,  but  the  erosions  were  more  marked 
and  extensive  than  on  the  transverse  folds  of  the  cardiac  end.  Xear 
the  i)yloric  opening  were  several  small  ulcers,  to  the  surface  of  M4iich 
the  gastric  contents  had  adhered. 

In  the  intestines,  the  only  lesions  discoA^ered  were  a  number  of  puncti- 
form  ecchymoses  in  the  rectum,  especially  near  the  anus. 

The  liver  Avas  fatty,  much  engorged  with  blood,  and  appeared  greatly 
increased  in  size. 

Tlie  spleen  weighed  four  and  a  half  pounds,  was  of  a  dark  color,  and 
its  structure  softened. 

The  kidneys  were  of  a  deep  red'color,  and  the  bladder  much  distended 


142  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

by  l)l()o(ly  miiu'.     The  mucous  surface  of  the  bladder  was  studded  all 
over  with  small  i)ete('hije  of  a  vermilion  hue,  as  seen  in  other  cases. 

Observation  XVI,  August  L*(),  180S. — lied  steer:  at  slaughter-house,  in 
Bri(lge])()rt. 

Organs  of  resi)iration  healthy. 

Heart  tirm  and  of  normal  size,  was  slightly  ecchymosed  at  the  apex, 
aud  on  tlic  fleshy  pillars  of  the  left  ventricle.  Organs  of  deglutition 
and  the  tirst  stomach  sound.  The  fourth  stomach  was  slightly  riMldencd 
at  the  cardiac  end;  two  small  erosions,  about  one-third  of  an  inch  in 
length,  existed  uear  the  pylorus,  where  the  membrane  generally  was  of 
normal  color. 
/    The  intestines  were  healthy. 

The  liver  aud  gall  bladder,  to  all  appearance,  normal. 

The  spleen,  of  a  dark  color,  weighed  four  and  a  half  pounds ;  but  its 
structure  had  undergone  little  change,  was  firm,  and  of  a  brighter  red 
than  any  previously  examined  in  splenic  fever.  The  appearance  of  this 
spleen  is  shown  in  plate. 

The  kidneys  were  slightly  congested,  and,  on  cutting  into  the  pelves, 
SJine  bright  ecehymoses  were  found,  as  if  in  the  earliest  stage  of  blood 
exbravascition  in  these  structures.  The  bladder  contained  a  moderate 
quantity  of  clear-colored  urine,  but  was  slightly  ecchymosed  uear  its 
ueck.    The  cerebrospinal  centers  healthy. 

Observation  XVII,  August  21,  18G8. — Eed  cow;  examined  at  St. 
Louis.  Killed  by  effusiou  of  blood.  Eespiratory  passages  heal th3^  On 
opening  the  thorax  the  lungs  were  found  pale,  and  only  partially  col- 
lapsed. 

The  posterior  lobe  of  the  right  lung  was  the  seat  of  extensive  inter- 
lobular emphysema.  On  the  anterior  aud  the  middle  lobes  were  several 
scattered  patches  of  congestion,  corresponding  to  congested  lobules, 
within  which  were  simple  reddened,  not  solidified,  globules,  and  they 
floated  on  water. 

The  heart,  of  normal  size  and  consistence,  was  slightly  ecchymosed 
on  the  anterior  aud  the  posterior  ventricalar  furrows.  Internally  the 
right  cavities,  containing  a  little  fluid  blood,  were  healthy;  but  the  left 
was  tinged  by  ecchymotic  spots  on  the  fleshy  pillars  of  ventricle. 

The  mouth,  pharynx,  gullet,  and  first  three  stomachs,  were  healthy. 
The  fourth  stomach  was  reddened  at  its  cardiac  end,  and  its  folds  stud- 
ded all  over  with  ecchymoses.  This  condition  Avas  kindly  and  most 
accurately  reproduced  in  a  water-color  sketch,  by  C.  V.  liiley,  esq.,  State 
entomologist. 

The  small  intestine  was  the  seat  of  ramified  redness  throughout.  In 
the  ciccum,  in  a  line  with  the  nuiscous  folds,  the  blood  extravasations 
which  had  occurred  were  of  a  dark  rusty  color;  and  similar  changes 
were  seen  in  the  rectum. 

The  liver  and  gall  bladder,  much  congested,  weighed  twenty-five 
pounds.     In  the  liver  were  old  atlhesions,  and  some  deposits  of  yellow 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEYER    OF    CATTLE.  143 

jxranalar  lympli,  near  the  surface,  extending  in  one  instance  to  half  an 
inch  in  depth.     There  was  also  marked  evidence  of  fatty  degeneration. 

The  gall  bladder  was  the  seat  of  extensive,  ramified  redness  on  its 
inner  surface. 

The  spleen,  of  a  dark  purplish  tint,  weighed  six  and  a  half  pounds. 
Wherever  an  incision  was  made,  its  softened  pulp  exuded  without  pres- 
sure. 

The  kidneys,  paler  than  usual  in  this  disease,  weighed  three  and  one- 
quarter  pounds.     They  were  free  from  ecchymoses. 

The  urinary  bladder  was  much  distended  with  bloody  urine. 

The  cerebrospinal  meninges  were  intenselj"  congested. 

The  gray  matter  of  the  brain  was'reddened,  and  the  ijuncta  vasculosa 
in  the  oval  centers  A^ery  marked. 

Observation  XVIII,  August  21,  1868. — Black  steer ;  the  property  of 
Messrs.  Palmer  and  Perry.  Died  during  the  day.  Post-mortem  exam- 
ination at  6  p.  m.  Respiratory  passages  normal ;  cadaveric  congestion 
of  left  lung.  On  opening  the  pericardium,  the  heart  was  found  exten- 
sively ecchymosed  at  the  base  of  the  right  ventricle,  and  over  the  origin 
of  the  pulmonary  artery.  The  right  cavities  contained  a  little  dark, 
semi-tluid  blood.  The  left  side  was  nearly  empty,  but  on  the  columnfe 
earner  of  the  ventricle  there  was  a  dark  piuplish  tint  of  the  endocardium 
from  extensive  extravasations  of  blood  in  and  beneath  its  structure. 
The  digestive  organs  anterior  to  the  true  stomach  were  sound.  The  car- 
diac end  of  the  abomasum  was  of  a  diffuse  red  color.  The  mucous 
membrane  of  the  pyloric  end  was  of  normal  color,  wherever  it  was  not 
eroded,  but  it  was  studded  witli  between  twenty  and  thirty  abrasions 
of  the  epithelium,  exposing  the  vascular  membrane  in  patches  varying 
from  oue-fourtli  to  one  and  one-half  inch  in  length,  and  usually  longer 
than  broad.  The  duodenum  was  turgid  with  bile.  The  jejunum  was 
extensively  ecchymosed  on  its  inner  surface.  The  large  intestine  healthy, 
except  some  extravasation  on  the  rectal  folds. 

The  liver  and  gall  bladder,  of  general  normal  look,  but  congested, 
weighed  twenty-seven  pounds.  The  gall  bladder  was  distended  by 
inspissated  bile.  The  gland  itself  was  softened  by  fatty  change.  The 
spleen,  dark  and  softened,  weighed  seven  and  one-fourth  pounds.  The 
kidneys  were  intensely  congested,  but  not  ecchymosed.  The  bladder 
was  full  to  repletion  of  bloody  urine,  but  its  coats  were  normal.  Dark- 
ness precluded  the  examination  of  tlie  brain  and  spinal  cord. 

Observation  XIX,  August 20, 1808. — Two-year-old  roan  steer;  the  prop- 
erty of  Mr.  Richard  Callahan,  near  Abilene.  Organs  of  resinration  healthy. 
Heart  flabby  and  blood-stained  on  the  posterior  ventricular  furrow.  In- 
terior of  right  side  unchanged,  but  on  the  septum,  and  fleshy  pillars  in 
the  left  ventricle,  were  extensive  ecchymoses. 

On  opening  the  abdomen  the  peritoneum  was  found  studded  with 
punctiform  ecchymoses. 

Organs  of  deglutition  and  first  three  stomachs  normal.     The  cardiac 


144  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

end  of  tlio  fourth  stoinach  was  intensely  reddened,  and  its  folds  marked 
by  zi<;zn<;  lissuresor  ulcteratious,  in  the  center  of  which  were  black  scabs, 
with  adherent  food.  The])yloricend  was  of  more  normal  color,  but  four 
ulcers,  about  one-half  inch  broad,  and  of  irregular  shape,  existed  in  its 
jniddle;  and  at  the  pyloric  end  was  a  larger  spot  of  idceration,  about 
one  inch  in  length. 

The  duodenum  was  much  congested  on  its  minor  surface,  and  diffuse 
redness  pervaded  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  jejunum  and  ileum.  In 
various  parts  of  the  latter  were  snmll,  dark  petechiie. 

The  mucous  membrane  of  the  whole  of  the  large  intestine  was  of  a 
dark  red  color,  and  the  excrement  in  the  rectum  was  tinged  with  blood. 
Through  the  whole  of  the  longitudrnal  mucous  folds  extravasations  of 
blood  had  occurred.  The  liver  and  gall  bladder  weighed  seventeen  and 
one-half  pounds,  and  ai)peared  healthy.  The  bile  in  the  gall  bladder 
was  thick.  The  spleen  was  very  dark  in  color,  its  pulp  soft,  and  general 
weight  live  and  one-half  pounds. 

The  kidneys  were  much  congested,  and  the  mucous  membrane  of  each 
pelvis  spotted  with  dark  ecchymoses. 

In  the  peritoneal  cul  de  sac,  around  the  bladder  and  rectum,  were 
numerous  bright  ecchymoses.  The  bladder  was  full  of  bloody  urine, 
and  its  mucous  lining  extensively  dotted  with  small  blood  spots,  of  a 
vermilion  hue. 

On  severing  the  head  from  the  neck,  a  large  quantity  of  serum  flowed 
from  the  meninges.  The  meninges  were  dark,  and  of  the  general  color 
of  the  gray  matter  of  the  cord,  and  the  brain  was  much  redder  than  in 
health. 

Observation  XX,  September  5,  18GS. — Three-year-old  red-and-white 
cow ;  the  property  of  Dennis  Doran,  Brighton,  near  Chicago,  This  cow 
had  died  during  the  preceding  night,  and  was  dissected  at  3  p.  m.  on 
the  5th.  There  was  no  sign  of  decomposition,  and  the  internal  organs 
were  still  warm. 

The  organs  of  respiration  were  healthy. 

Heart  and  pericardium  sound,  and  free  from  ecchymoses. 

Organs  of  deglutition  and  iirst  stomach  healthy.  Secoiul  stomach  of  a 
dull  red  hue  in  its  inner  lining.  Third  stomach  normal.  Fourth  stom- 
ach of  a  dark  red  color  at  its  cardiac  end,  with  various  ecchymoses,  and 
half  a  dozen  small,  circumscribed  spots  where  the  e])ithelium  had  been 
thrown  oH",  and  the  dark  red  vas<;ular  membrane  exposed. 

The  general  color  of  the  lining  in  the  antrum  i)yhn'i,  was  much  less 
intensely  red  than  in  the  transverse  folds,  but  was  the  seat  of  several 
erosions. 

The  pyloric  gland  had  a  zigzag  ulcer  on  its  summit. 

The  small  intestine  was  the  seat  of  ramihed  redness.  In  the  large 
intestine  the  longitudinal  mucous  folds  were  all  reddened  along  their 
free  margins,  by  blood  extravasation. 

The  liver  was  sound,  but  the  gall  bladder  thickened  by  serous  iufiltra- 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE.  145 

tiou;  and  its  mucous  lining  indicated  the  ramifications  of  tlie  lesser  arte- 
ries and  veins,  wliicli  were  gorged  with  blood. 

The  spleen  weighed  six  and  a  third  i>ounds,  was  of  a  dark  purplish 
tint,  and  its  pulp  softened. 

The  kidneys  congested,  but  not  ecchymosed. 

The  urinary  bladder  distended  by  bloody  urine. 

The  broad  ligaments  of  the  uterus  were  thickly  studded  with  ecchy- 
moses  of  a  bright  arterial  huej  cerebro-spinal  centers  not  examined. 


10 


14G 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


TABLKS  OF  WKKillT  OK  THH  LTVHR  AM)  SIM.EKN,  ITICALTIIY  AND  DISKASED,  OF  CATTLE 
EXAMINED  AND  UEFEllKED  TO  IN  THE  KEI'OKTS  OF  I'UOF-^SSOll  GAMGEE. 


August  26  to  August  30. 

CHEROKEE  Sl'LrKNS. 


2i 

2i 

2J 

24 

2 

2i 

23 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

21 

2 

o 

2t 

2 

2i 

2 

24 

24 

2i 

2i 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

o 

2 

2i 

2 

2i 

2i 

24 

2} 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

2.1 

2i 

2} 

2i 

24 

2} 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

2* 

24 

24 

2t 

2i 

^\ 

2i 

2i 

2i 

24 

3 

24 

2+ 

24 

24 

24 

2^- 

24 

24 

2i 

21 

2i 

2.i 

2i 

24 

2 

24 

24 

24 

2.! 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

2i 

2.V 

f> 

:h 

3 

2* 

ol 

Hk 

2 

24 

24 

24 

3 

34 

24 

24 

24 

2 

O 

2.V 

2i 

2 

24 

t> 

24 

24 

2 

24 

24 

24 

-4 

Total 

301 J 

2.36 

TEXAN  SPLEENS. 


3k 

34 

3 

2^ 

21 

24 

24 

24 

24 

3 

34 

3 

24 

24 

3 

2 

24 

3 

34 

24 

2 

24 

24 

24 

3 

34 

24 

2 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

24 

3 

24 

24 

2 

2 

24 

2 

3 

34 

3 

2 

24 

2 

24 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

3 

24 

34 

3 

34 

3^ 

34 

3 

24 

34 

34 

3 

34 

34 

34 

24 

24 

24 

3 

24 

3 

24 

24 

3 

24 

3i 

24 

3 

34 

34 

3 

3 

3 

4 

9i 

24 

34 

3 

24 

24 

24 

24 

34 

24 

3 

34 

24 

2i 

24 

o]- 

34 

24 

2* 

34 

24 

3 

2 

3 

34 

24 

2i 

24 

24 

24 

34 

34 

■M 

34 

24 

3 

3i 

24 

3 

34 

34 

24 

24 

24 

34 

34 

2.'. 

24 

34 

24 

2 

24 

3 

24 

2 

34 

3 

24 

24 

3 

24 

2 

24 

24 

3 

34 

34 

4 

34 

34 

34 

34 

4 

34 

24 

24 

24 

24 

34 

34 

34 

34 

34 

4 

24 

34 

34 

2.', 

24 

24 

24 

Si- 

34 

3.V 

3 

nx 

24 

24 

24 

3 

Totnl 

530 

2.83 

NATIVE  SPLEENS. 


Native  cattle. 

MALE. 


14 

ii 

u 

■  14 

14 

14 

li 

U 

14 

14 

14 

14 

U 

14 

14 

14 

1^ 

u 

14 

14 

14 

14 

u 

14 

14 

li 

1 

14 

14 

J4 

14 

1  '■ 

14 

14 

14 

14 

1 L 

14 

H 

14 

14 

14 

14 

i4 

14 

U 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

U 

li 

14 

14 

U 

14 

U 

14 

14 

14 

]4 

U 

U 

14 

U 

14 

14 

14 

U 

14 

IJ 

u 

14 

14 

14 

n 

14 

U 

2 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

U 

14 

14 

14 

U 

U 

14 

1.^ 

14 

li 

U 

1.4- 

14 

li 

14 

14 

li 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

u 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

14 

Total  . 

.... 

183^ 

Avcr'c 

...... 

1.38 

a 

CO 

09 

Vj 

a 

33 

G 

t 

Date. 

o 

e 

Date. 

V 

i- 

Date. 

<D 

Date. 

o 

'H. 

> 

c. 

E* 

"2, 

."Z. 

"H. 

t» 

10 

05 

J 

tx 

^  \ 

m 

3 

Sept.  8 

1 

Sept.  9  . . . . 

1 

9 

Sept.  9.... 

14 

12 

Sept.  10.. 

11 

li 

11 

14 

10 

14 

10  i 

12 

1 

9 

2 

10 

14 

13  1 

o 

10 

Sept.  9 

14 

14 

1 

8 

li 

15 

9 

o 

15 

14 

9 

1 

12 

8 

li 

15 

14 

10 

1 

13 

12 

ij 

13 

14 

9 

0 

14 

10 

11 

^ 

U 

13 

f 

5 

2 

17 

11 

2 

13 

1 

8 

li 

13 

VJ 

o 

13 

14 

10 

14 

13 

13 

o 

12 

1 

6 

Sept.  10.. 

14 

9 

11 

14 

10 

U 

10 

1 

8  ! 

13 

14 

13 

1 

8 

14 

8 

11 

2 

13 

2 

14 

U 

10 

1-,' 

u 

11 

1 

9 

14 

11 

\\ 

12 

U 

12 

11 

9 

li 

9  1 

o 

10 

14 

10 

o 

8 

li 

1«  ( 

it 

1 

!) 

1 

9 

14 

10 

l.'i 

1 

8 

14 

12 

U 

11 

o 

11 

14 

10 

14 

9 

14 

11  ! 

1 

12 

NoTi;.— R.v  the  tiTiii  "native,"  as  npplir-d  to  cattle  or  their  diseased  organs,  is  meant  not  hidigenouf 
cattle  not  ruined  iu  districts  whence  the  inlectiou  originated. 


bat 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 

Native  cattle — Continued. 


147 


MALE. 


m 

TZi 

OQ 

a 

OQ 

a 

e£ 

a 

■A 

c 

T- 

Date. 

> 

Date. 

"a. 

> 

Date. 

CJ 

o 

p. 

> 

Date. 

— 

> 

m 

3 

OD 

J 

m 

3 

m 

3 

Sept.  TO  ... 

o 

16 

Sept.  li  ... 

u 

13 

Sept.  13-... 

li 

12 

Sept.  14  ... 

2i 

19 

14 

13 

u 

12 

li 

16 

li 

12 

U 

12 

u 

14 

1 

8 

2 

11 

2 

13 

li 

16 

1 

6 

li 

9 

li 

12 

u 

9 

li 

9 

Sept.  15... 

H 

12 

2 

13 

H 

13 

li 

12 

li 

16 

n 

12 

li 

12 

li 

9 

U 

16 

2 

14 

li 

12 

1 

8 

li 

14 

1 

9 

li 

13 

li 

10 

li 

15 

u 

9 

li 

14 

li 

14 

li 

12 

u 

10 

U 

12 

li 

10 

li 

14 

1 

10 

2 

16 

1 

5 

li 

13 

li 

9 

2  . 

13 

li 

■8 

li 

12 

1 

10 

li 

14 

1 

7 

1 

9 

n 

11 

li 

14 

Sept.  14... 

li 

10 

1 

10 

1 

10 

li 

13 

li 

9 

li 

12 

li 

11 

1 

10 

li 

10 

li 

14 

1 

9 

U 

12 

li 

9 

li 

14 

li 

12 

1 

9 

li 

9 

1 

10 

2i 

12 

li 

14 

li 

8 

li 

15 

1 

8 

li 

12 

li 

8 

li 

12 

1 

11 

n 

13 

1 

6 

li 

13 

1 

10 

Sept.  13... 

u 

11 

li 

11 

li 

14 

1 

11 

2 

12 

li 

10 

li 

13 

Sept.  11.... 

1 

10 

li 

13 

li 

12 

li 

14 

1 

10 

2 

15 

li 

16 

l' 

9 

U 

9 

1 

11 

li 

20 

1 

11 

1 

11 

li 

12 

li 

16 

li 

12 

u 

12 

2 

12 

U 

13 

li 

13 

1 

10 

li 

12 

li 

9 

1 

10 

1.^ 

11 

o 

15 

li 

6 

2 

16 

u 

11 

U 

14 

li 

8 

li 

13 

u 

11 

2 

13 

li 

16 

li 

14 

H 

11 

li 

10- 

li 

13 

2 

16 

U 

10 

U 

J6 

li 

12 

li 

11 

H 

9 

1 

8 

li 

11 

li 

13 

H 

9 

1 

7 

li 

8 

li 

10 

2 

13 

1 

6 

li 

9 

li 

11 

2 

16 

H 

11 

li 

10 

li 

13 

U 

18 

li 

13 

li 

10 

li 

9 

H 

9 

li 

12 

u 

12 

1 

11 

H 
2 

16 
11 
14 

li 
li 
H 

10 
13 

7 

li 
li 
li 

12 
12 
12 

Total 

li 

13 

375i 

2,  959 

1 

1 

10 

li 

9 

13 

Average. . . 

T46' 

11.39 

Native  cattle — Continued. 


FKMALE. 


Sept.  8 

o 

16 

Sept.  8 

li 

12 

Sept.  9.... 

1 

16 

Sept.  9 . . . . 

li 

13 

li 

12 

2 

15 

2 

19 

li 

13 

1 

15 

li 

16 

1 

13 

li 

14 

2 

11  ■ 

2 

13 

4 

li 

13 

li 

12 

* 

2 

14 

2i 

12 

1 

14  ■ 

H 

14 

li 

12 

2i 

15 

li 

16 

li 

10 

2 

16 

o 

16 

li 

14 

li 

15 

li 

12 

Sept.  9.... 

li 

13 

li 

9 

li 

10 

2 

13 

■  li 

11 

11 

12 

U 

12 

T 

10 

li. 

14 

li 

10 

li 

10 

1 

9 

U 

a 

li 

10 

li 

8 

li 

14 

2" 

12 

li 

7 

'  li 

12 

1 

11 

li 

12 

1 

7 

1 

11 

li 

15 

li 

13 

u 

9 

1 

11 

1 

9 

li 

15 

u 

10 

2i 

9 

li 

16 

2 

12 

li 

12 

1 

10 

li 

12 

U 

13 

li 

10 

2 

14 

2i 

10 

li 

14 

2 

10 

li 

11 

» 

li 

11 

U 

13 

li 

10 

r 

8 

2 

15 

1* 

16 

2i 

14 

li 

11 

2 

16 

li 

12 

li 

9 

Sept.  10  . . . 

ij 

13 

2 

20 

2 

20 

li 

9 

1 

8 

u 

14 

1 

13 

li 

U 

li 

10 

2 

13 

1 

12 

li 

13 

3 

11 

148 


DErARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 


Native  cattle — Continued. 

FKMAI.K. 


X 

in 

X 

« 

c 

r£ 

a 

?° 

a 

X 

a 

?■ 

Date. 

.2 

Date. 

Date. 

0. 

o 

Date. 

o 

"c. 

> 

"E 

> 

"E. 

t* 

"5.  ■ 

> 

05 

13 

m 

s 

05 

13 

OS 

ij 

Sipt.  10 

]■} 

9 

Sept.  11... 

li 

13 

Sept.  13.... 

1 

11 

Sept.  14... 

li 

9 

1 

8 

li 

12 

li 

13 

li 

9 

1.4 

16 

li 

15 

2 

16 

li 

8 

n 

12 

U 

16 

H 

12 

li 

9 

1.V 

12 

li 

12 

U 

14 

li 

10 

n 

12 

1 

13 

1| 

12 

li 

9 

u 

14 

li 

12 

2 

15 

li 

10 

1 

8 

li 

13 

1 

16 

If 

17 

H 

15 

li 

15 

li 

16 

li 

16 

ih 

U 

li 

15 

1 

12 

li 

12 

n 

13 

li 

14 

li 

15 

li 

8 

u 

10 

1 

17 

1 

12 

li 

10 

il 

12 

. 

u 

14 

1 

15 

li 

12 

u 

14 

li 

15 

1 

10 

H 

1(1 

u 

12 

1 

11 

1 

12 

li 

la 

H 

13 

1 

12 

1 

10 

1 

6 

1* 

15 

1* 

13 

U 

12 

1 

5 

r 

9 

li 

15 

2" 

15 

•li 

9 

li 

12 

u 

13 

If 

16 

li 

IS 

H 

13 

li 

14 

2  . 

13 

If 

18 

li 

8 

If 

14 

li 

13 

li 

14 

u 

10 

Ji 

15 

1 

U 

li 

16 

u 

12 

li 

13 

li 

12 

li 

14 

1 

7 

1 

10 

1 

12 

li 

10 

2 

10 

li 

14 

li 

12 

li 

12 

1  + 

13 

li 

12 

1 

12 

li 

10 

U 

7 

li 

10 

1 

12 

li 

8 

H 

8 

li 

16 

1 

12 

li 

10 

li 

9 

1 

7 

1 

10 

li 

10 

u 

11 

1 

6 

f 

1;;.' 

li 

10 

ll 

10 

li 

15 

1 

10 

li 

10 

li 

13 

u 

16 

1 

12 

If 

15 

2 

16 

li 

14 

1 

9 

li 

14 

1 

8 

li 

13 

1 

12 

1 

5 

1 

8 

u 

14 

U 

12 

f 

4 

u 

11 

li 

12 

If 

13 

li 

13 

u 

16 

1 

9 

1 

13 

If 

15 

u 

10 

li 

15 

li 

10 

li 

10 

li 

11 

1 

8 

li 

12 

li 

8 

H 

10 

u 

16 

li 

11 

li 

9 

u 

9 

li 

16 

li 

10 

li 

10 

n 

13 

li 

14 

1 

11 

li 

9 

1 

8 

u 

10 

2 

11 

li 

8 

u 

14 

li 

15 

U 

12 

li 

10 

1 

8 

li 

12 

1 

11 

2 

19 

u 

12 

li 

15 

1 

12 

If 

17 

li 

12 

li 

12 

2 

14 

li 

18 

H 

11 

li 

14 

li 

10 

li 

11 

li 

11 

1 

9 

li 

10 

li 

12 

li 

11 

1 

11 

1 

8 

li 

14 

u 

14 

li 

12 

li 

9 

li 

G 

2 

10 

li 

H 

1 

S 

li 

9 

1.1- 

16 

2 

If! 

li 

12 

If 

10 

li 

7 

li 

14 

r 

6 

. 

li 

16 

1 

10 

li 

13 

1 

6 

li 

y 

2 

16 

1 

10 

li 

15 

li 

8 

o 

10 

2 

11  1 

1 

8 

li 

12 

1 

11 

li 

13 

li 

10 

li 

10 

2 

16 

li 

14 

li 

9 

li 

9 

1.'. 

16 

2 

16 

Sept.  14... 

li 

9 

li 

8 

:! 

13 

li 

12 

1 

6 

1 

5 

1 

11 

U 

13 

1 

5 

1 

6 

1 

8 

U 

10 

li 

8 

li 

q 

li 

16 

n 

11 

li 

9 

li 

12 

2 

16 

li 

13 

r 

6 

li 

14 

2i 

16 

H 

9 

li 

11 

1 

5 

H 

16 

li 

11 

li 

10 

1 

« 

o 

14 

H 

11 

n 

8 

li 

12 

li 

14 

li 

13 

li 

9 

li 

20 

li 

15 

n 

13 

li 

10 

If 

21 

I 

12 

\ 

10 

1 

41 

li 

10 

1 

14 

li 

12 

1 

6 

li 

9 

1 

12 

li 

13 

11 

10 

n 

8 

li 

13 

li 

14 

2 

16 

li 

9 

Id 

14 

li 

14 

o 

21 

lA 

10 

Sopt.  11.... 

1 

9 

li 

16 

li 

18 

li 

11 

Ji 

11 

li 

12 

li 

22 

li 

13 

li 

12 

li 

10 

u 

10 

li 

14 

SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 


149 


Native  cattle — Continned. 

FEMALE. 


QC 

w 

M 

X 

a 

33 

a 

00 

a 

so 

a 

;ja 

Date. 

3 
> 

Date. 

"H, 

Date. 

Date. 

'a 

3 
> 

CO 

2 

05 

3 

m 

»J 

m 

'\A 

Sept.  14 

H 

15 

Sept.  15... 

u 

11 

Sept.  15.... 

2 

12 

Sept.  18.... 

11 

J-4 

16 

U 

16 

1 

12 

li 

13 

12 

n 

17 

n 

9 

1 

10 

13 

Sept.  15 

u 

14 

n 

14 

li 

9 

li 

15 

n 

12 

2 

15 

2 

11 

12 

u 

12 

u 

11 

2 

12 

10 

u 

12 

1 

12 

li 

13 

li 

12 

u 

12 

1 

12 

n 

15 

]i 

13 

u 

11 

n 

15 

0 

13 

14 

u 

14 

1 

11 

u 

15 

11 

1 

12 

• 

u 

11 

2 

10 

-14 

13 

1 

9 

11 

12 

2 

10 

li 

15 

^?r 

11 

H 

12 

2i 

12 

10 

H 

12 

2i 

13 

1 

10 

ji 

11 

u 

8 

1 

11 

li 

12 

11 
J  4 

10 

li 

14 

» 

U 

10 

2 

10 

H 

11 

]f 

10 

U 

12 

1 

12 

1 1_ 
■1 4 

12 

1 

12 

H 

11 

li 

U 

10. 

13 

2 

15 

H- 

10 

Sept.  10... 

li 

14 

1  J. 

J  4 

9 

1 

12 

% 

U 

11 

2 

16 

li 

10 

1 

12 

o 

13 

li 

17 

IV 

10 

1 

12 

2i 

13 

li 

16 

12 

u 

12 

1 

9 

li 

15 

10 

1 

12 

H 

11 

li 

•  15 

li 

1) 

u 

12 

o 

12 

li 

17 

^4 

12 

li 

11 

1 

11 

li 

17 

]i 

10 

1 

12 

1 

11 

li 

12 

li 

14 

1 

12 

n 

13 

"li 

13 

15 

1 

11 

H 

11 

li 

13 

i4 

14 

1 

11 

u 

12' 

1 

14 

li 

15 

u 

12 

u 

12 

li 

14 

17 

1 

9 

If 

13 

] 

13 

16 

o 

11 

1 

11 

li 

14 

li 

14 

h 

13 

H 

U 

li 

13 

li 

13 

1 

12 

1 

13 

li 

14 

12 

H 

10 

n 

12 

li 

14 

11 

U 

12 

1 

10 

li 

15 

li 

13 

1 

10 

li 

12 

U 

15 

15 

li^ 

12 

1 

8 

li 

17 

10 

1 

13 

1 

10 

1 

14 

U 

o 

15 

1 

11 

1 

14 

li 

13 

2 

12 

1 

9 

1 

13 

In- 

12 

1* 

13 

1 

IL 

li 

13 

14 

]* 

12 

1 

10 

o 

15 

14 

1* 

13 

u 

11 

li 

12 

li 

13 

u 

14 

u 

15 

1 

13 

12 

H 

14 

li 

J3 

li 

15 

13 

li 

14 

H 

14 

li 

12 

12 

U 

12 

2 

15 

li 

13 

13 

1 

16 

H 

15 

li 

14 

15 

n 

14 

1 

H 

1 

13 

17 

u 

14 

1.1- 

12 

1 

15 

li 

15 

2 

16 

li 

16 

li 

13 

14 

•  u 

14 

o 

Ifi 

li 

13 

12 

u 

13 

U 

11 

I 

10 

i  ii 

13 

u 

14 

2 

12 

1 

13 

14 

li» 

12 

.    U 

11 

li 

14 

15 

li 

10 

2 

12 

1 

13 

li 

14 

1* 

10 

2i 

13 

li 

12 

15 

1 

10 

2 

12 

li 

13 

li 

14 

1 

10 

H 

14 

li 

14 

li 

15 

U 

11 

2 

12 

1 

13 

17 

li 

13 

2i 

13 

li 

12 

16 

u 

13 

n 

11 

1 

12 

U 

14 

2 

14 

2 

12 

1 

13 

li 

13 

1 

13 

2 

11 

li 

14 

12 

u 

13 

H 

12 

1 

11 

11 

];, 

13 

1 

10 

1 

10 

n 

13 

n 

12 

1.V 

12 

i 

14 

li 

14 

* 

H 

13 

2" 

10 

2 

15 

15 

i' 

12 

H 

11 

2 

13 

10 

u 

13 

U 

11 

li 

12 

li 

11 

u 

13 

2 

10 

li 

14 

li 

13 

H 

12 

U 

u 

1 

15 

14 

1 

10 

2 

10 

Sept.  18... 

li 

13 

11 

1 

11 

H 

8 

li 

16 

U 

1 

10 

1 

14 

li 

14 

li 

12 

•  n 

10 

li 

10 

li 

U 

13 

H 

11 

U 

8 

2 

17 

14 

150 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


Native  cattle — Continued. 

KKMALK. 


tn 

CO 

on 

ja 

P 

=; 

a 

i" 

a 

OS 

B 

» 

Date. 

Date. 

<0 

Date. 

0} 

Date. 

0) 

a. 

> 

"o. 

f 

"o. 

> 

'H. 

> 

02 

s 

CO 

u 

K 

]2 

00 

'2 

Sept.  18 

1* 

13 

Sept.l&&20. 

n 

12 

Sept.l8&,20. 

u 

10 

Sept.  24... 

1 

14 

1 

12 

1 

10 

1 

11 

1 

16 

1 

13 

u 

12 

li 

12 

15 

14 

1 

12 

u 

10 

2 

13 

1 

9 

H 

11 

u 

12 

U 

16 

11 

10 

2 

15 

n 

11 

li 

15 

U 

12 

1 

16 

2 

9 

1 

14 

1 

10 

U 

14 

li- 

11 

l-i 

16 

li 

12 

r 

13 

2 

12 

1 

12 

u 

10 

1 

12 

H 

13 

11 

.10 

li 

13 

I 

15 

1 

12 

li 

11 

If 

13 

1 

17 

U 

13 

1 

13 

1 

12 

1 

16 

n 

12 

11 

8 

11 

12 

U 

13 

2 

10 

n 

10 

11 

13 

li 

14 

If 

11 

H 

12 

1 

10 

1 

12 

H 

13 

li 

14 

li 

12 

1* 

14 

1 

12 

Ji 

16 

If 

13 

1 

15 

u 

10 

u 

10 

If 

9 

u 

14 

1 

10 

11 

13 

11 

10 

H 

15 

IJ 

12 

11 

•  12 

1 

9 

2 

16 

2 

9 

1 

13 

11 

14 

2 

17 

u 

10 

u 

15 

li 

12 

n 

13 

1 

12 

H 

14 

11 

13 

2 

11 

u 

13 

11 

10 

11 

14 

] 

15 

n 

11 

11 

12 

1 

14 

1 

10 

H 

12 

1 

8 

li 

10 

1 

9 

1 

10 

11 

12 

u 

10 

H 

13 

li 

13 

11 

10 

li 

14 

1 

11 

2 

10 

U 

12 

If 

9 

1 

11 

2i 

12 

11 

12 

1 

8 

H 

12 

H 

9 

li 

10 

If 

11 

1 

13 

1 

11 

li 

9 

2 

12 

1 

14 

1 

8 

11 

13 

11 

13 

H 

13 

li 

11 

li 

12 

11 

10 

1 

12 

2 

12 

li 

14 

li 

12 

2 

17 

n 

11 

u 

16 

11 

14 

2 

14 

2 

9 

u 

15 

11 

10 

H 

14 

u 

10 

11 

13 

11 

12 

1+ 

14 

u 

12 

1 

10 

1 

11 

1 

12 

li 

13 

11 

12 

li 

16 

1 

13 

H 

12 

11 

9 

11 

10 

H 

11 

1 

11 

li 

13 

11 

15 

2 

15 

U 

10 

1 

10 

li 

10 

1 

16 

2 

9 

11 

11 

1 

12 

u 

14 

U 

12 

1 

10 

11 

14 

1 

13 

1 

14 

If 

8 

li 

10 

1 

12 

u 

11 

1 

9 

li 

15 

u 

14 

1 

10 

1.1 

10 

11 

15 

o 

17 

11 

8 

u 

13 

li 

11 

H 

15 

2 

9 

u 

15 

1 

14 

]i 

17 

11 

10 

11 

16 

u 

16 

u 

14 

li 

13 

9 

21 

1 

11 

li 

13 

11 

12 

Sept.  24... 

1^ 

■  16 

u 

15 

2 

17 

u 

10 

1 

15 

1 

10 

u 

14 

u 

12 

H 

16 

11 

12 

1 

15 

o 

14 

U 

17 

1} 

14 

2 

13 

Jl 

10 

1 

16 

ft 

n 

16 

u 

11 

u 

16 

11 

15 

11 

15 

H 

14 

u 

11 

1 

13 

1 

14 

U 

15 

11 

12 

11 

15 

11 

15 

1 

11 

1 

10 

1 

16 

it 

](i 

Sept.  18  &  SO 

2 

13 

11 

11 

11 

15 

U 

14 

H 

15 

1 

9 

11 

15 

1 

14 

U 

9 

2 

12 

1 

14 

11 

15 

]i 

8 

11 

13 

11 

12 

11 

12 

H 

8 

1 

8 

11 

14 

1 

13 

1 

9 

11 

10 

1 

15 

11 

14 

1* 

10 

u 

12 

11 

15 

li 

14 

1 

9 

2 

14 

li 

12 

Total 

1 

15 

2 

13 

11 

13 

U 

10 

1*1 

16 

H 
li 

12 
14 
13 

11 
11 
u 

10 

1 

li 

11 

9 

1  Averngo  . . 

10 

12 

12 
14 

8 
12 

1,4411 

12,  36 If 

1.  423 

12.214 

SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 

Native  cattle — Continued. 


151 


MALE  AND  FEMALE. 


X 

1  i 

X 

a 

f- 

s 

DC 

a 

i" 

p 

tc 

Date. 

a) 

Date. 

Date. 

Date. 

3 

■q. 

.- 

> 

"S. 

.- 

> 

oo 

^ 

m 

3 

m 

hJ 

!» 

J 

August  20.. 

1 

]2 

August  20. 

1 

9 

Sept.  2.... 

li 

12 

Sept.  2 

2 

11 

u 

14 

n 

11 

li 

14 

2 

12i! 

2 

Qi 

1 

8i 

li 

14 

2 

9" 

H 

1.3' 

1 

14 

2 

16 

2 

10 

1 

15 

1 

12 

li 

15 

li 

11 

U 

16 

u 

14 

li 

14 

li 

11 

2 

9i 

H 

12 

li 

14 

li 

12 

2 

14 

U 

9 

li 

15 

li 

12 

2* 

13 

ll 

12 

li 

14 

Sept.  3.... 

2 

10 

]« 

12 

1 

14 

u 

15 

4 

9 

]2 

1 

12 

1:V 

13 

2i 

13 

13 

li 

9 

li 

15 

2i 

16 

li 

13 

1 

12 

li 

16 

2} 

10 

12 

u 

13 

1 

Hi 

2 

10 

li 

14 

2 

14 

2 

9i 

2 

11 

2 

12 

2 

16 

li- 

Hi 

2i 

13 

2 

13 

2 

18 

li 

11 

2i 

15 

2 

15 

U 

9i 

u 

12 

2i 

15 

u 

18 

1 

14 

li 

12 

2 

10 

H 

16 

U 

15 

IJ 

U 

U 

U 

1 

12 

1 

12 

H 

12 

ll 

13 

1 

9i 

If 

16 

li 

10 

2 

12 

H 

14 

1 

12 

li 

11 

2 

12 

1 

12 

u 

15 

2 

12 

2i 

13 

1 

81 

1 

14 

2 

13 

2i 

14 

U 

12 

1 

15 

2 

10 

3 

14 

1 

12 

1 

12 

1.^ 

9 

3 

13 

U 

14 

1 

9 

li 

9i 

2i 

14 

1 

1.5 

u 

8 

1 

9 

2i 

12 

1 

16 

1 

12 

1 

9^ 

U 

10 

1 

12 

J 

8i 

2 

12 

li 

8 

2 

9 

* 

8 

2 

10 

li 

8 

2 

10 

1 

9 

2 

11 

li 

7 

li 

14 

n 

9J 

2i 

12 

1 

10 

1 

15 

1 

12 

9 

U 

9 

u 

13 

1 

12 

11 

12 

n 

9 

1 

14 

Sept,  2.... 

1 

16 

10 

li 

12 

1 

12 

u 

18 

13 

2 

10 

2 

13 

li 

14 

» 

9i 

^1 

9 

I 

9 

2 

20 

11 

u 

9 

u 

12 

H 

14 

12 

li 

VS{ 

1 

14 

] 

13 

li 

10 

2 

11 

2 

15 

H 

12 

li 

11 

2 

12 

2 

17 

U 

14 

2' 

ICi 

2i 

12 

1 

14 

li 

13 

2 

11 

li 

12 

1 

13 

1 

14 

2 

12 

1* 

12 

u 

14 

2 

20 

1 

11 

1 

11 

1 

15 

U 

14 

1 

12 

2 

12 

1 

16 

2 

20 

li 

10 

2i 

10 

u 

16 

u 

14 

1 

Hi 

2} 

9 

1 

14 

1 

13 

li 

12 

2 

s 

li 

15 

u 

12 

li 

13 

2 

10 

1 

12 

u 

14 

1 

11 

2i 

11 

1 

13 

u 

13 

li 

10 

li 

12 

1 

14+ 

1 

13 

1 

9i 

'  2 

9 

u 

9 

H 

14 

1 

9 

o 

10 

u 

12 

H 

12 

1 

8i 

2i 

9 

2 

14 

1 

16 

li 

9' 

2 

10 

2 

15 

U 

13 

li 

8i 

2 

11 

u 

16 

H 

14 

1 

8 

2 

12 

2 

17 

1 

14 

1 

8.^ 

2 

11 

li 

16 

H 

14 

li 

9- 

Sept.  4.... 

li 

14 

li 

12 

1 

13 

li 

8i 

li 

12 

u 

10 

U 

15 

li 

8 

li 

14 

]J 

12 

u 

18 

\ 

8 

li 

14 

1 

16 

u 

14 

li 

9<. 

n 

12 

2 

18 

u 

17 

1 

10" 

li 

10 

Ji 

16 

li 

13 

li 

10 

11 

14 

li 

12 

u 

18 

1 

11 

li 

14 

1 

12 

u 

16 

1 

U 

li 

16 

2 

10 

\ 

n 

14 

li 

11 

li 

14 

1 

12 

li 

14 

1 

10 

1} 

14 

u 

13 

2 

19 

li 

12 

lA 

12 

1 

14 

U  1 

18 

2 

9i 

2' 

14 

1 

15 

1 

13 

2 

12 

li 

13 

li 

16 

i..^ 

14 

li 

10 

3 

18 

1 

12 

u 

14 

1 

lOi 

li 

14 

u 

14 

li 

14 

li 

11 

li 

12 

152 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Native  catllr — Coiil  iiiucil. 


MALK  AND  FE.MAI.K. 


X 

X 

X 

m 

S 

£ 

? 

£ 

S 

t    1 

a 

00 

Date. 

© 

V 

Date. 

0^ 

o 

Date. 

o 

Date. 

0) 

CJ 

> 

> 

"S. 

"a. 

O. 

"o. 

«3 

" 

r/i 

ij 

cc 

2 

w 

'^ 

Sept.  4 

14 

Sept.  7 

H 

lU 

Sept.  7.... 

2i 

8 

Sept.  10.  .. 

u 

Hi 

Sept.  C 

1 

]() 

li 

11" 

1 

16 

11 

12 

li 

14 

li 

Hi 

li 

15 

li 

15 

I 

15 

li 

12 

2 

20 

li 

15 

u 

18 

1 

12 

li 

18 

li 

14^ 

u 

16 

\\ 

Hi 

li 

14  ; 

1 

12 

u 

15 

li 

11 

1 

12 

1 

1", 

li 

14 

li 

12 

li 

16 

li 

9^ 

u 

17 

li 

13 

li 

14 

H 

13 

u 

14 

li 

10 

li 

15 

li 

13 

li 

15 

2 

11 

li 

18 

1 

13 

li 

14 

2 

10 

1 

13 

1 

9 

li 

15 

li 

12 

li 

14 

2 

9^ 

li 

18 

li 

10 

U 

15 

U 

15i 

li 

17 

1 

11 

li 

18 

li 

11 

li 

17 

li 

12 

li 

14 

li 

12 

2 

I'i 

li 

lU 

li 

14 

li 

13 

li 

!■* 

1 

12 

li 

17 

li 

93 

2 

13 

li 

13 

li 

15 

1 

15 

li 

14 

li 

9i 

li 

14 

1 

8 

U 

10 

li 

12 

2 

18 

li 

13 

2.i 

H 

li 

lOi 

i'i 

17 

li 

12 

li 

10 

O 

9i 

li 

15 

u 

12 

li 

lU 

h 

lOi 

li 

17 

2 

15 

li 

Hi 

li 

u 

1 

16 

2 

\%\ 

1 

i^i 

1 

12 

li 

14 

li 

\\\ 

2i 

Hi 

li 

10 

li 

18 

H 

12 

2 

r.ii 

1 

i'i 

li 

15 

I 

14 

li 

VJ 

u 

10 

* 

14 

li 

13 

1 

10 

1 

12i 

Sept.  9.... 

li 

lOi 

.  2" 

12^ 

li 

11 

li 

13 

1 

11 

1 

12 

2 

9 

li 

11 

2 

12 

1 

13 

<) 

H 

o 

13 

li 

13 

li 

14 

u 

Hi 

*-4 

13 

u 

15 

A. 

10 

li 

11 

o 

11 

1 

14i 

2 

15 

li 

13 

li 

12 

0 

]2i 

* 

li 

10 

li 

9.i 

1 

11 

1 

13 

li 

14 

2 

lOi 

li 

12 

li 

9i 

li 

13 

2 

9i 

1 

11 

li 

15 

li 

lOJ 

li 

13 

\h 

10 

li 

11 

11 

H 

li 

m 

1 

10 

li 

13 

li 

12 

li 

10 

1 

12 

li 

14 

2 

13 

1 

in 

li 

13 

li 

10} 

2i 

Vi\ 

1 

H 

1 

10 

IJ 

15 

11 

15 

li 

11 

U 

12 

u 

12 

li 

9 

li 

10 

1 

9i 

li 

15 

o 

8i 

13 

m 

li 

12 

2 

14i 

Ti 

11 

li 

1!4 

li 

13 

2 

15 

li 

12 

li 

11 

li 

11 

li 

lOi 

li 

13 

2 

15} 

2 

10 

1 

12 

li 

11 

li 

11 

li 

11 

li 

13 

2 

14 

2 

13 

2* 

12 

1 

15i 

"w 

15 

li 

13 

li 

15 

li 

10 

li 

14 

H 

lU 

3 

13 

li 

12 

li 

lOJ 

li 

11' 

2 

10 

li 

Hi 

2 

15 

2 

Hi 

3 

15 

li 

14i 

li 

13 

2 

12 

li 

13 

li 

16 

li 

IH 

li 

9i 

Si 

14 

S.-pt.  10... 

li 

12 

ij 

13 

li 

yi 

li 

16 

1! 

13 

li 

12 

li 

9} 

li 

13 

li 

14 

It 

13 

li 

9 

o 

10 

1 

Hi 

Sept.  ]1... 

1 

10 

li 

9i 

2i 

10 

li 

if 

li 

13 

1 

9 

2J 

11 

li 

10, 

i 

8 

2 

10 

2i 

12 

li 

9 

1 

14 

Ti 

12 

li 

11 

li 

14 

1 

9 

Sept.  7 

1 

a 

2 

13 

1 

10 

li 

13 

11 

1(1 

2 

15 

li 

12 

li 

12 

1 

12 

3 

10 

1 

10 

1 

13 

1 

i:i 

li 

10 

<) 

12 

2 

9 

M 

10 

li 

13 

2i 

11 

1 

11 

1} 

10} 

li 

16 

o 

12 

H 

13 

li 

Hi 

li 

13 

li 

14 

1 

14 

o 

8 

li 

12 

1 

10 

1 

14 

2i 

li 

Pi 
I'-'i 

'i 

13 

10 

li 

u 

15 
15 

li 

15 
10 

li 

12 

2 

11 

1 

11 

2 

16 

U 

JO 

2 

13 

') 

9 

1 

14 

li 

9 

3 

15 

1 

H 

13 

1 

15 

SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 

Native  cattle — Contiiinecl. 

MALE  AND  FEMALE. 


153 


X 

OQ 

a 

p 

a 

rfi 

CD 

^ 

Date. 

ft- 
> 

Date. 

0! 

o 
> 

Date. 

U2 

2 

Date. 

1 

"S. 

> 
2 

Sept.  11.... 

H 

13 

Sept.  14... 

1 

15 

Sept.  14... 

U 

14 

Sept.  14... 

14 

15 

li 

16 

]i 

10 

li 

10 

lA 

14 

1 

9 

u 

9i- 

1 

15 

1 

14 

J 

10 

U 

14 

14 

16 

u 

15 

li 

13 

2 

16 

1 

14 

14 

13 

u 

14 

2 

15 

14 

13 

1 

94 

1 

12 

24 

15 

14 

14 

o 

12 

1 

14 

U 

12 

2 

12 

H 

14 

1 

15 

14 

14 

24 

13 

14 

15 

U 

13 

U 

94 

24 

16 

1 

16 

H 

16 

14 

9 

14 

10 

i 

84 

1 

9 

2 

16 

U 

11 

1 

12 

i 

10 

1 

12 

li 

10 

1 

14 

U 

13 

1^ 

13 

2 

12 

1 

12 

2 

9* 

o 

14 

2 

14 

1 

14 

2 

12 

2i 

13 

U 

15 

2 

12 

2 

11 

2 

14 

1 

12 

14 

14 

1* 

13 

U 

15 

2 

10 

U 

94 

H 

14 

14 

15 

1 

14 

1 

12 

2J 

15 

li 

14 

u 

12 

14 

12 

li 

13 

li 

12 

IJ 

10 

2 

94 

U 

14  • 

1 

10 

1 

9 

1 

114 

1 

15 

li 

14 

J 

8 

2 

12 

U 

11 

1 

12 

f 

8 

2 

14 

u 

10 

1 

13 

1 

12 

1 

14 

1 

164 

1-^ 

'.14 

14 

15 

14 

14 

2 

12 

14 

104 

2 

94 

1 

15 

1 

13 

2 

12 

1 

14 

H 

13 

1 

14 

2+ 

13 

14 

15 

2 

14 

H 

12 

2" 

12 

1 

12 

1 

14 

U 

14 

U 

15 

14 

114 

1 

15 

H 

lU 

U 

16 

i 

8 

2 

13 

2 

13 

r 

17 

1 

11 

2 

14 

u 

14 

1 

14 

u 

10 

Sept.  15.... 

1 

14 

H 

15 

1 

9 

14 

14 

\h 

15 

]+ 

12 

14 

14 

2 

9 

li 

16 

2 

10 

1 

16 

24 

94 

1 

17 

1 

11 

1 

12 

1 

11 

1 

94 

H 

12 

li 

15 

U 

12 

li 

14 

U 

13 

14 

12 

li 

14 

2 

94 

1 

.11 

1 

14 

14 

15 

2 

12 

1* 

11 

2 

94 

2 

94 

1 

14 

l| 

19 

2 

14 

2 

16" 

1 

15 

u 

12 

2k 

15 

1* 

12 

2 

10 

H 

n 

r 

12 

14 

15 

2 

114 

li 

11 

14 

13 

14 

14 

14 

14 

1* 

13 

2 

15 

14 

144 

14 

15 

1 

84 

2.1- 

16 

u 

1!4 

1 

13 

1 

13 

1 

94 

2 

10 

1 

15 

o 

14 

14 

94 

14 

94 

14 

16 

1 

12 

li 

9 

1 

12 

2" 

12 

1 

14 

14 

12 

1 

14 

1 

11 

1 

164 

H 

15 

14 

15 

1 

94 

2 

12 

14 

16 

14 

16 

1 

14 

1 

16 

o 

15 

1 

12 

1 

13 

14 

13 

1 

14 

14 

16 

li 

14 

H 

14 

U 

15 

14 

12 

li 

16 

1 

12 

l' 

16 

1 

11 

\ 

9 

Sept.  14 

1 

12 

H 

14 

14 

9 

3 

10 

U 

14 

2 

94 

14 

10 

1 

14 

1 

15 

2 

10 

14 

9 

1 

12 

li 

16 

14 

15 

2 

12 

14 

14 

H 

13 

2 

13 

14 

14 

1 

17 

2 

U 

24 

14 

1 

13 

1 

11 

2 

16 

14 

16 

I 

12 

14 

10 

1 

15 

1 

14 

J 

8 

14 

9 

li 

12 

14 

13 

1 

12 

2 

11 

u 

10 

2 

14 

H 

14 

Tt 

9 

li 

8* 

2 

14 

1 

15 

24 

13 

u 

16' 

1 

12 

3 

9 

1 

12 

u 

14 

14 

13 

3 

94 

1 

9 

lA- 

8 

2 

14 

4 

10 

2i 

13 

l" 

9 

li 

15 

3 

11 

2 

14 

1 

8 

14 

16 

34 

10 

1 

15 

} 

8i 

14 

12 

1 

12 

1 

12 

2 

19 

94 

14 

14 

14 

10 

1 

12 

H 

14 

O 

10 

1 

Hi 

1 

13 

li 

12 

24 

14 

1 

14 

154 


DEPARTxMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 
Natite  ca«/c— Continued. 


MALK  AND  FEMAI.K. 


Sept  16 


Sept.  23... 


Sept.  24.. 


1 
IJ 

] 

U 
11 
1 

u 

1 

2 

].+ 

1 

n 

2 

1 

II 
1 

H 

1 

H 

U 

1 

]* 

2 

2 

If 

1 

l-i 
o 

] 

U 
1 
2 

u 

1 
1 


i 
u 
1^ 

1 

u 
] 

1}- 

1 

n 

1 

1 

u 

1 

1 

1 

1 

u 

IJ 

1 

1 

1} 

u 

1 

I 

u 

H 

1} 

1 

2 

2 

2 

n  I 


o3 

Date. 

0^ 

05 

3 

Sept.  18... 

1 

14 

u 

10 

I 

l.T 

u 

1(1 

1.3 
12 
]6 
34 
75 
14 
15 
12 
16 
15 
12 
15 
]:j 
15 
14 
16 
10 
9 
13 
12 
14 
13 
15 
12 
9l 
15 
14 
13 
15 
14 
13 
15 
16 
13 
14 
12 
16 
15 
!)* 
8 
12 
14 
16 
12 
13 
J5 
34 
12 
15 
12 
13 
15 
10 
9* 
9d 
8i 
14 
15 
Vk 
12 
14 
15 
9  J 
14 
!'■} 
15 
13 
14 
12 
15 
16 
15 
15 


I 


SPLENIC    OR    PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 
Native  cattle — Continued. 

MALE  AND  FEMALE. 


155 


31 

ro 

u. 

32 

a 

oi 

c 

« 

a 

X 

a 

■n 

Date. 

.  Date. 

■a 

a; 

> 

Date. 

> 

Date. 

o 

> 

c 

"E. 

p. 

Q* 

m 

3 

m 

13 

Vi 

i3 

m 

hI 

Sept.  24.... 

If 

16 

Sept.  25  .. 

U 

12 

Sept.  25... 

H- 

11 

Sept.  25... 

11 

H 

14 

H 

12 

1 

11 

8 

2 

16 

U 

10 

U 

12 

8 

U 

15 

1 

12 

u 

10 

1(;4 

] 

16 

U 

12 

u 

8 

1 J- 

11 

H 

15 

1 

13 

u 

12 

9 

1 

16 

14 

12 

ll 

9 

11 

U 

15 

o 

13 

1 

10 

14 

11 

X 

14 

o 

11 

n 

11 

14 

12 

1 

15 

24 

13 

1 

12 

9 

If 

10 

■  1 

10 

2 

11 

12  . 

li 

14 

1 

12 

u 

14 

14 

13 

1 

13 

2 

15 

1 

15 

12 

u 

12 

u 

14 

1 

10 

14 

14 

u 

15 

1 

12 

\\ 

12 

12 

1 

16 

1 

11 

\\ 

13 

14 

13 

1 

12 

u 

10 

14 

14 

14 

H 

% 

1 

9 

1 

14 

12 

u 

12 

H 

12 

1 

11 

14 

1 

14 

1 

8 

1 

124 

o 

15 

1 

15 

U 

8 

1 

11 

13 

38 

u 

12 

U 

9 

1 

lU 

1 

9i 

H 

11 

li 

10" 

Total 

1,  9634 

1 6,  6794 

3i 

11 

13i 

1 
1 

13 

9i 

H 

14 

13 

12 

Sept.  25 

Average  . . 

1.467 

12.466 

Cherokee  cattle, 

MALE. 


Sept.  8 

2 

10 

Sept.  13... 

14 

8 

Sept.  14... 

24 

12 

Sepf  15... 

24 

13 

1 

10 

14 

12 

34 

11 

2 

12 

2 

10 

14 

10 

3 

14 

14 

11 

u 

12 

24 

12 

14 

10 

14 

11 

2 

9 

2 

12 

2 

9 

0 

13 

1 

7 

2i 

10 

3 

10 

14 

9 

fc) 

10 

2i 

14 

24 

9 

14 

9 

T4 

8 

14 

11 

3 

12 

14 

8 

Sept.  9 

2 

10 

14 

9 

0 

11 

14 

11 

14 

9 

14 

12 

0 

10 

14 

12 

2 

10 

0 

15 

0 

10 

0 

12 

0 

13 

14 

10 

3 

10 

14 

U 

1 

8 

2 

14 

Sept.  15... 

14 

8 

14 

12 

14 

8 

14 

12 

14 

7 

0 

13 

Sept.  10.... 

14 

7 

14 

10 

14 

8 

14 

9 

14 

9 

14 

10 

2 

12 

14 

10 

2 

12 

0 

12 

14 

13 

2 

11 

U 

13 

24 

15 

14 

9 

'14 

12 

14 

■  7 

<J 

10 

2 

13 

14 

10 

H 

9 

14 

12 

14 

9 

24 

14 

H 

13 

14 

13 

2 

10 

14 

10 

14 

8 

0 

13 

0 

10 

U 

11 

1 

8 

14 

12 

0 

10 

14 

n 

H 

10 

24 

16 

24 

IJ 

14 

11 

n 

11 

2 

12 

2 

13 

14 

10 

14 

10 

i'i 

9 

2 

12 

14 

11 

14 

11 

0 

12 

14 

11 

14 

12 

2 

10 

U 

14 

2 

12 

14 

10 

n 

10 

Sept.  14... 

24 

14 

2 

12 

14 

9 

u 

10 

') 

12 

1* 

11 

14 

13 

24 

14 

n 

9 

14 

10 

14 

12 

14 

14 

14 

13 

14 

11 

2" 

13 

H 

10 

14 

10 

14 

10 

14 

13 

Sept.  13.-.. 

H 

12 

14 

13 

14 

11 

ll 

11 

14 

13 

u 

12 

2 

12 

14 

9 

14 

14 

14 

10 

2 

12 

14 

11 

2 

13 

].'. 

10 

2 

12 

14 

10 

24 

10 

14 

10 

14 

11 

14 

n 

2 

12 

y 

14 

14 

9 

0 

13 

2 

12 

14 

U) 

11 

8 

0 

12 

2 

13 

14 

12 

2 

11 

Ti 

u 

H 

12 

24 

15 

14 

11 

14 

9 

U 

8 

14 

11 

14 

12 

14 

9 

U 

10 

24 

10 

2 

12 

li 

11 

14 

10 

2 

11 

14 

11 

'» 

13 

156 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


Cherokee   aittlr. — Coiitinuecl. 

MALE. 


tB 

X 

1! 

X 

X 

a 

F 

a 

7- 

□ 

F 

a 

?j 

Date. 

V 

Date. 

0^ 

Date. 

a 

Date. 

h 
» 

> 

>■ 

— 

"5. 

"E. 

"E, 

"S. 

05 

Ij 

!» 

s 

m 

13 

CO 

13 

Sept.  15.... 

I* 

11 

Sept.  18... 

1 

12 

Sept.  18... 

H 

11 

Sept.  18... 

1 

8 

2 

1.) 

1 

7 

1 

13 

1 

9 

2 

12 

1 

9 

2 

12 

li 

7 

o 

13 

H 

13 

2i 

13 

li 

5 

n 

11 

2 

14 

2 

13 

li 

7 

n 

14 

1 

11 

% 

11 

1 

6 

2 

13 

1 

7 

o 

12 

1 

5 

u 

14 

U 

8 

Ti 

10 

1 

7 

2 

13 

U 

8 

li 

10 

U 

8 

O 

13 

1 

9 

.  li 

10 

1 

9 

2 

12 

u 

9 

li 

11 

1 

7 

J* 

JO 

1 

8 

2 

U 

li 

8 

]A 

11 

1 

9 

2i 

12 

li 

9 

li 

12 

.   li 

11 

2i 

14 

1 

9 

u 

9 

1 

8 

2i 

14 

li 

10 

H 

10 

1 

7 

li 

10 

u 

10 

o 

11 

1 

9 

2 

12 

1 

8 

Sept.  18.... 

3i 

7 

li 

10 

2 

12 

1 

7 

1 

7 

1 

10 

li 

11 

1 

6 

u 

8 

H 

13 

li 

10 

1 

5 

1 

7 

1 

11 

li 

13 

li 

7 

1 

5 

1 

U 

2 

11 

1 

8 

1 

7 

1 

11 

2i 

13 

1 

6 

1 

8 

U 

10 

2 

12 

u 

7 

1* 

8 

1 

11 

2 

12 

li 

9 

1 

11 

2 

13 

2 

13  1 

1 

8 

H 

7 

2 

12 

2 

13 

li 

7 

2 

9 

1 

11 

li 

11 ; 

u 

7 

li 

8 

2 

12 

1 

11 

1 

8 

1 

7 

U 

13 

li 

13 

li 

9 

I 

6 

2 

9 

li 

10  i 

li 

8 

U 

.  9 

1 

7 

1 

9  ' 

li 

7 

2 

*  10 

U 

8 

1 

8 

u 

9 

U 

9 

1 

9 

1 

11 

1 

8 

1 

7 

u 

9 

li 

13 

Sept.  25... 

li 

9 

H 

10 

H 

9 

1 

9 

li 

11 

1 

8 

1 

8 

1 

10 

2 

12 

U 

7 

1 

7 

li 

10 

H 

9 

2 

10 

1 

8 

li 

11 

1 

8 

2 

12 

1 

8 

li 

11  1 

li 

9 

1 

7 

U 

9 

li 

8  1 

2 

11 

1 

9 

2 

10 

1 

7 

li 

10 

H 

11 

li 

11 

li 

8  1 

2 

12 

1 
2 

u 

12 
12 
12 

2 
1 
li 

13 
7 

8 

li 

1 

1 

9  1 

8  i 

9  ^ 

Total 

Average.. 

577} 

3,  731 

1.60 

10. 335 

F KM  ALE. 


Sept.  8 

li 

11 

Sept.  10... 

1 

1 

10   Sept.  13... 

2 

15 

Sept.  14... 

li 

9 

li 

10 

li 

12  1 

li 

10 

1.1 

8 

2 

10 

1 

6  1 

li 

8 

li 

10 

2 

9 

li 

8 

2 

11 

2 

12 

1 

7 

li 

9 

2 

12  ; 

2J 

11 

1 

10 

1 

7 

2i 

13 

2 

11 

2 

10 

li 

13 

St'pt.  14... 

13 

2i 

9 

2 

9 

li 

10 

15  i 

li 

8 

2 

8 

li 

12 

14 

2 

10 

Sept.  9 

1 

5 

li 

10 

12 

2 

10 

li 

9 

li 

11 

13 

li 

10 

1 

6 

1 

7 

10 

2i 

9 

H 

12 

li 

9 

10 

li 

8 

li 

12 

li 

9 

11 

2i 

9 

2 

10 

U 

10 

10 

li 

8 

2 

12 

Sept.  13... 

2 

15 

14  j 

2i 

14 

U 

9 

2i 

12 

10  ' 

li 

9 

li 

9  ! 

li 

8 

10  I 

li 

11 

li 

12 

2 

12 

10  ' 

li 

3 

1 

8 

2i 

14 

13 

2i 

9 

1 

5 

2 

10 

•  12 

o 

10 

2 

10 

li 

12 

12  ; 

Ti 

11 

li 

10 

li 

13 

10  1 

Sept.  15... 

li 

11 

li 

8 

2 

14 

12  ! 

li 

10 

Sept.  10.... 

li 

14  1 

2i 

18 

13  , 

1 

9 

SPLENIC    OR   PERIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 


157 


Cherokee   cattle — Continued. 


FEMALE. 


CO 

OD 

1 

m 

xA 

□ 

£E 

a 

VI 

s 

Ol 

s 

Date. 

a- 

0) 

Date. 

tu 

CD 

Date. 

QJ 

0- 

Date. 

aj 

a. 

a. 

Q. 

00 

iJ 

t» 

a 

m 

^ 

VI 

>-l 

Sept.  15.... 

1 

9 

Sept.  15... 

u 

13 

Sept.  15... 

\\ 

u 

Sept.  IS... 

12 

H 

11 

1 

9 

\-k 

12 

n 

11 

U 

11 

u 

10 

U 

11 

H 

9 

H 

12 

u- 

10 

1* 

10 

7 

2 

12 

u 

11 

u 

10 

1  " 

8 

2 

13 

1 

9 

li 

11 

1-1 

9 

o 

12 

u 

n 

u 

12 

1* 

7 

2i 

14 

u 

12 

Sept.  18... 

u 

11 

9 

1* 

11 

n 

12 

1 

9 

8 

n 

11 

u 

11 

li 

13 

H 

9 

11 
12 

u 
n 

11 
10 

It 

13 
11 

Total 

241 

1.611 

u 

12 
12 

u 

14 

11 
11 

IJ- 

12 
13 

li 

Average . 

1.585 

10.6 

MALE  AND  FKMALE. 


Aug.  20 

3 

9 

Sept.  3 

14 

9 

Sept.  3.... 

24 

10 

Sept.  4.... 

14 

9 

3.i- 

8 

o 

10 

24 

9 

14 

11 

3 

12 

24 

n 

24 

9 

24 

12 

2f 

10 

24 

10 

24 

9 

24 

12 

2 

11 

2 

11 

2 

8 

24 

11 

2* 

9 

24 

10 

24 

9 

24 

12 

2i 

12 

24 

13 

3 

10 

14 

9 

3 

84 

24 

10 

24 

10 

14 

9 

3 

11 

24 

12 

2 

9 

2 

10 

3 

94 

2 

10 

24 

9 

*-4 

12 

Sept.  2 

3 

94 

14 

8 

24 

16 

14 

11 

3 

11 

24 

12 

24 

12 

14 

11 

3 

11 

24 

13 

2| 

15 

24 

13 

24 

10 

24 

10 

4 

13 

24 

12 

3 

94 

24 

13 

2 

10 

Oi. 

12 

2i 

9 

2 

10 

o 

11 

24 

11 

3- 

9 

24 

12 

2 

10 

u 

9 

3 

10 

24 

13 

3 

11 

14 

9 

3 

104 

2 

10 

3 

12 

o 

11 

3 

9 

14 

9 

2 

9 

24 

10 

3i 

9 

14 

10 

« 

15 

24 

11 

Sept.  3 

2J 

10 

2 

11 

24 

12 

24 

11 

2.J 

13 

w 

11 

2 

13 

24 

12 

2i 

10 

*.4 

12 

21- 

12 

2 

9 

2 

11 

24 

11 

24 

12 

2 

10 

2i 

14 

24 

10 

2 

11 

14 

9 

U 

10 

24 

12 

3 

11 

24 

11 

ll 

11 

2 

11 

14 

12 

24 

10 

# 

24 

12 

14 

10 

Sept.  4.... 

24 

12 

24 

10 

2i 

11 

14 

12 

2 

10 

24 

12 

2J 

13 

24 

12 

24 

11 

2i 

11 

24 

14 

14 

10 

24 

13 

24 

13 

2i 

12 

24 

11 

2 

9 

24 

11 

2 

13 

24 

12 

U 

8 

2 

10 

24 

13 

24 

10 

H 

9 

2 

12 

24 

14 

24 

8 

14 

8 

14 

9 

2.i 

14 

24 

8 

14 

10 

14 

11 

24 

13 

24 

9 

2 

11 

14 

10 

24 

12 

24 

10 

24 

12 

2.1 

13 

2i 

14 

24 

9 

24 

12 

Sept.  6.... 

o 

13 

24 

l.'i 

24 

10 

24 

11 

24 

13 

2 

i:j 

24 

8 

2 

9 

2 

12 

2i 

14 

24 

10 

24 

12 

24 

13 

24 

13 

24 

10 

24 

10 

o 

11 

24 

13 

24 

9 

2 

9 

2 

10 

24 

14 

24 

8 

14 

8 

U 

10 

24 

13 

24 

10 

24 

12 

IJ 

8 

24 

13 

24 

8 

H 

9 

14 

9 

2i 

13 

O 

8 

2 

12 

H, 

U 

2 

10 

24 

8 

14 

10 

2l 

13 

24 

n 

24 

10 

24 

12 

24 

13 

2 

u 

24 

9 

2i 

11 

24 

12 

24 

12 

24 

10 

24 

11 

2 

10 

24 

11 

24 

9 

24 

12 

2 

9 

2 

10 

24 

8 

24 

12 

24 

12 

24 

13 

24 

8 

2 

9 

24 

11 

24 

a 

24 

9 

14 

9 

24 

13 

24 

12 

2i 

9 

2 

8 

14 

9 

158 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


Cherokee   cattle — Continued. 

MAI.K    AND    FEMALE. 


oC 

X 

1 

X 

en 

a 

oi 

S 

S 

CO 

a 

» 

Date. 

o 

01 

Date. 

a 

01 

Date. 

01 

1/ 

Date. 

Qj 

> 

^  , 

> 

> 

'a. 

Q. 

.-•    1 

"H, 

"S. 

m 

\3 

05 

^  I 

05 

3 

t» 

s 

Sept.  6 

2 

10  ' 

Sept.  7 

2i 

1 
14 

Sept.  14... 

n 

13 

Sept.  17... 

2J 

11 

■  H 

12 

2 

10 

H 

10 

3 

12 

2 

11 

2 

11 

H 

12 

2* 

114 

21 

12 

21 

13 

u 

12 

'■) 

94 

-■ii 

U 

2i 

14 

14 

10 

3 

10 

21 

10  1 

2i 

13 

14 

9 

34 

11 

2i 

9 

2i 

14 

li 

14 

2 

11 

2 

10 

2 

10 

14 

12 

24 

14 

2 

9 

2i 

14 

14 

18 

24 

10 

2i 

13 

2^ 

13 

34 

10 

24 

10 

2i 

12 

2i 

12 

n 

12 

Sept.  18-.. 

2 

94 

2i 

12 

2i 

13 

u 

10 

3 

84 

U 

12 

Sept.  10... 

2i 

9i 

^ 

9 

3 

9 

2* 

13 

2i 

10 

u 

12 

24 

11 

2 

10 

3J 

10 

14 

12 

2J 

10 

2 

9 

2i 

11 

14 

12 

3 

9 

2i 

13 

2* 

91 

2 

13 

34 

8i 

2i 

14 

3 

11 

14 

10 

2 

12 

2i 

10 

3i 

9 

U 

10 

24 

11 

:^i 

11 

3 

H 

14 

10 

2t 

12 

2 

9 

4 

94  , 

14 

8 

3 

9 

2 

8 

3 

104  , 

14 

14 

34 

94 

H 

13 

2} 

9 

It 

16 

S«^t.  23  -. 

3 

10 

U 

8 

2f 

10 

14 

14 

34 

9 

2i 

n 

.  2i 

9 

l.V 

13 

24 

94 

2+ 

13 

2J 

14 

1.1 

12 

3 

12 

U 

8 

3 

11  . 

1-4 

14 

3 

•  11 

2i 

12 

3i 

94 

14 

13 

•  24 

10 

2i 

13 

4 

9 

14 

15 

2} 

14 

U 

8 

4i 

94 

3 

9 

3 

10 

H 

9 

3 

10 

3 

8 

34 

12 

U 

11 

2h 

9 

4 

10 

2 

9 

2i 

12 

3i 

Si 

44 

12 

24 

84 

2 

10 

2f 

94 

3 

9 

Sept.  24... 

3 

10 

Sept.  7 

H 

10 

24 

11 

3 

11 

3 

94 

U 

12 

3 

94 

34 

12 

3 

9 

li 

12 

3f 

9 

3J 

9 

2} 

10 

n 

14 

3i 

94 

3 

10 

34 

10 

2i 

12 

2i 

84 

3,V 

84 

34 

94 

2i 

13 

3 

9i 

3 

94 

3 

10 

2 

12 

4 

94 

4 

8 

34 

11 

2i 

14 

Sept.  11... 

2J 

8 

Sept.  16... 

24 

8 

3t 

114 

2i 

14 

3 

94 

24 

9 

4 

10 

2 

10 

3 

10 

3 

11 

4 

10 

H 

9 

31 

94 

3} 

10 

34 

12 

H 

10 

Sept.  14... 

2 

15 

3 

94 

3 

94 

2i 

12 

14 

10 

24 

84 

2i 

9 

2J 

13 

U 

10 

3 

94 

il 

9 

2i 

13 

li 

12 

34 

8 

10. 

2i 

13 

U 

13 

Sept.  17... 

24 

9 

2i 

14 

U 

14 

24 

84 

Total 

1,  034 i 

4,  702} 

2i 

13 
14 

n 

11) 

3 
3 

9 
94 

16 

Average . 

2.  345 

10.60 

2i 

15 

Tcran  cattle. 

.MALE. 


Sept.  8. 


Sept.  9. 


34 

12 

34 

10 

34 

10 

3 

9 

34 

12 

3 

10 

34 

12 

3 

11 

34 

12  1 

3i 

14 

3 

10 

H 

13 

24 

11 

2 

13 

2 

14 

Sept.  9.. 


Sept.  10. 


24 

14 

24 

16 

o 

12  1 

2 

11 

24 

11 

24 

11 

3 

11 

24 

12  ! 

3 

16 

24 

14 

21 

13 

24 

12 

3 

12 

3 

14 

21 

13 

,  Sept.  10.. 


3 
3 
2 

24 

24 
2 

24 

24 

24 

2 

14 
2 

24 

2 

2 


17 
14 
13 
11 
14 
13 
14 
12 
13 
12 
10 
10 
12 
10 
9 


Sejit.  10... 


Sept.  11... 


2.V 
24 

12 
14 

11 

8 

1 

9 

2 

11 

3 

13 

3 

14 

2.t 

14 

24 

13 

34 

10 

3 

10 

3 

I J 

21 

13 

3 

11 

3 

14 

SPLENIC    OR    PEEIODIC    FEVER    OF    CATTLE. 


159 


Texan  cattle — Continued. 

MALE. 


Date. 


02 


Sept.  11.. 


Sept.  13. 


Sept.  14... 


Sept.  15. 


3 

14 

3 

]2 

3 

12 

3 

12 

3 

12 

3 

14 

2i 

13 

2i 

12 

3 

14 

2i 

13 

n 

12 

2i 

11 

3i 

14 

2J 

10 

-^2 

14 

2i 

12 

2i 

10 

2* 

11 

24 

10 

3 

13 

3 

14 

3 

12 

3i 

13 

2i 

14 

2 

13 

24 

14 

2 

13 

24 

13 

24 

12 

o 

9 

3 

14 

24 

13 

2 

13 

3 

14 

24 

11 

34 

16 

3 

21 

2 

10 

3 

12 

3 

13 

24 

12 

34 

13 

3 

13 

24 

16 

2 

12 

24 

14 

3 

13 

24 

12 

3 

13 

24 

10 

2 

12 

3 

14 

3 

14 

3 

13 

34 

15 

24 

10 

3 

12 

3 

14 

34 

13 

24 

10 

24 

11 

3 

12 

2J 

10 

24 

24 

24 

12 

24 

10 

24 

11 

2 

13 

3 

13 

34 

14 

21 

10 

U 

10 

2 

8 

3 

13 

24 

15 

24 

13 

2 

10 

24 

12 

Date. 


Sept.  15. 


Sept.  16. 


o. 

.1^ 

!»  ■ 

^ 

3 

16 

24 

15 

2 

12 

24 

13 

14 

10 

o 

11 

3 

13 

3 

12 

2 

9 

3 

12 

H 

9 

o 

10 

01 

13 

14 

12 

2 

12 

24 

13 

o 

12 

3* 

10 

o" 

11 

3 

13 

2i 

12 

2 

12 

3 

13 

o 

15 

14 

12 

o 

11 

34 

10 

3 

12 

24 

13 

3 

10 

24 

9 

.24 

12 

3 

13 

24 

15 

2" 

10 

3 

12 

15 

3 

10 

oi 

13 

24 

14 

2 

15 

3 

15 

Ol 

12 

o" 

13 

o 

12 

2 

13 

o 

12 

24 

13 

14 

11 

o 

12 

2 

13 

o 

13 

24 

13 

o 

12 

2 

13 

n 

14 

2 

13 

o 

14 

o 

14 

2 

14 

2 

13 

24 

14 

24 

14 

O 

13 

24 

13 

24 

14 

2 

13 

h 

14 

24 

13 

o 

12 

2 

12 

2 

13 

2 

13 

24 

13 

2 

13 

2 

12 

2 

13 

2 

13 

Date. 


Sept.  16... 


Sept.  18.. 


"E. 

> 

m 

13 

2 

14 

14 

n 

14 

12 

2 

12 

2 

13 

24 

15 

24 

15 

24 

13 

3 

14 

<> 

15 

24 

13 

24 

13 

24 

12 

o 

12 

24 

12 

2 

11 

2 

12 

24 

13 

24 

12 

2 

13 

2 

14 

24 

13 

24 

12 

2 

14 

o 

13 

2 

12 

2 

13 

2 

12 

14 

11 

14 

11 

14 

10 

2 

12 

o 

15 

24 

14 

24 

13 

o 

13 

2 

12 

14 

11 

14 

10 

14 

10 

14 

11 

J4 

12 

14 

11 

14 

12 

1 

11 

1 

12 

2 

13 

3 

14 

24 

13 

24 

13 

2 

13 

2 

13 

2 

13 

2 

13 

14 

12 

2 

13 

2 

13 

2 

13 

U 

11 

14 

11 

14 

11 

14 

12 

2 

11 

14 

13 

o" 

11 

H 

13 

2 

13 

n 

13 

3 

10 

31 

13 

21 

15 

2.i 

12 

3 

13 

o 

16 

n 

15 

3 

13 

2 

10 

3 

15 

Sept.  18. 


3 

24 

14 

2 

3 

24 

3 

24 

3 


2 

24 
3 


2 
3 

u 

2 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

24 

2 

3 

2 

3 

ol 

24 
3 
24 
2 

.3 

24 

3 

2- 

3" 

2 

01 

3" 

o 

14 

1 

14 

14 

1 

1 

1 

14 

O 

24 

O 

14 
0 

2 

24 
14 
1 

14 


3 

3 
.3 

oJ 

2 

24 
1 

14 
24 

O 

1.^ 


IGO 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICl'LTURE. 


Texan  cattle — Contiuued. 

MAI.K. 


K 

03 

00 

1 

00 

c 

IK 

a 

00 

a 

p 

a 

i" 

Date. 

^ 
O 

Date. 

9 

ba 
¥ 

Date. 

it 

Date. 

0/ 

"5* 

"3. 

> 

■q. 

> 

a 

> 

OS 

3 

05 

a 

05 

13 

CO 

Ij 

Sept.  18 

2i 

13 

Sept.  18... 

2 

12 

Sept.  24... 

2i 

14 

Sept.  25... 

2i 

13 

2 

14 

2 

11 

2 

13 

2 

14 

n 

13 

n 

13 

2^ 

14 

2i 

12 

H 

14 

n 

11 

2i 

14 

2 

13 

2 

13 

u 

11 

2 

13 

2 

12 

2 

14 

2 

12 

2 

12 

H 

13 

2^ 

15 

2 

12 

2i 

14 

1 

9 

2 

13 

n 

12 

2.V 

13 

H 

10 

n 

14 

1 

11 

2" 

14 

U 

12 

1 

12 

H 

12 

2i 

14 

1 

9 

li 

13 

2 

13 

2 

13 

li 

12 

2 

11 

H 

11 

3 

15 

2 

13 

2} 

13 

U 

11 

2* 

14 

2 

12 

2 

13 

2 

13 

3' 

15 

2^ 

14 

2 

11 

2 

10 

Sept.  25... 

>■) 

10 

2 

13 

T* 

12 

2 

11 

h 

12 

2i 

14 

2 

14 

2 

U 

2 

11 

2 

13 

H 

13 

2J 

12 

2 

13 

li 

10 

2 

14 

2 

13 

2 

15 

li 

11 

2 

13 

2i 

11 

2 

10 

2 

12 

2i 

12 

2i 

13 

2.V 

13 

li 

11 

2 

13 

li 

9 

2 

13 

li 

10 

U 

11 

1 

10 

u 

11 

2i 

13 

n 

10 

u 

11 

2 

12 

2 

12 

2 

13 

n 

9 

2 

13 

li 

12 

2-i 

14 

n 

12 

2i 

13 

2 

13 

2 

13 

Sept.  24... 

2i 

14 

2 

12 

2i 

13 

2 

13 

li 

11 

Total 

U  109i 

6,070 

2 

12 

2 

14 

1 

10 

2 

11 

2 

1.5 

2i 

13 

Average .  . 

3. 259 

12.36 

o 

11 

2 

13 

2 

12 

FEMALE. 


Sept.  8. 


21 

11 

2i 

10 

2 

30 

2* 

12 

2i 

12 

2.t 

11) 

2 

10 

2i 

11 

3 

13 

Sept.  8.... 


2t 

3 

2i 

2i 
2 
Si 
3 

2i- 

2i- 


15  1  Sept.  8.. 

12   ;i 

16  1| 

14    I  Sept.  10. 

15 

13 

16 

15 

16 


3 

15 

2J 

13 

2i 

16 

2 

11 

H 

9  1 

2 

10 

2 

10 

U 

10 

2 

10 

Sept.  13... 

Total 

Average  . 


3 

2i 


6Ji 


'2.  387 


13 

12 


360 


12.413 


MALE  AND   FEMALE. 


Sept.  3 

3 

12 

Sept.  2.... 

3.V 

11 

Sept.  4 

2i 

12 

Sept.  4.... 

2i 

13 

3 

lOj 

4 

13 

H 

13 

3 

14 

3 

9A 

3i 

10 

2 

15 

2-V 

13 

•1 

12 

3* 

11 

2 

12 

2i 

12 

3 

11 

3.^ 

9 

2 

13 

2i 

11 

3 

10 

3i 

10 

2i 

15 

2 

10 

2i 

12 

' 

3 

10} 

3 

12 

2i 

13 

3 

12 

^i 

11 

3 

11 

2i 

12 

3 

11 

3 

10 

3 

12 

2i 

13 

3 

lU 

3 

10 

3 

10 

2 

10 

24 

10 

3i 

11 

3 

10 

2i 

13 

2J 

10 

3i 

9 

3 

V2 

2i 

14 

2+ 

11 

3* 

lU 

2i 

!) 

2i 

12 

2i 

11 

2i 

9 

2i 

12 

2i 

14 

3 

11 

Sept.  4.... 

2 

10 

2 

13 

2i 

13 

3 

12 

2 

11 

3 

10 

2i 

12 

3i 

10 

3 

12 

3 

12 

2^ 

13 

3 

12 

2* 

10 

/ 

2 

12 

2 

11 

Sept.  2 

2i 

9i 

U 

10 

2i 

12 

2i 

14 

3 

lOi 

2i 

11 

2 

10 

2i 

13 

2i 

11 

2 

12 

2 

10 

2i 

13 

2* 

13 

2i 

16 

2i 

12 

2f 

13 

3 

12 

2 

14 

2i 

12 

2i 

14 

2* 

11 

2i 

10 

2 

12 

2i 

14 

2i 

9 

2 

12 

2i 

14 

21 

13 

SPLENIC    OE   PERIODIC    FEVEE    OF    CATTLE. 


161 


Texan  cattle — Continued. 

MALE   AND   FEMALE. 


03 

a 

GQ 

DQ 

QQ 

^ 

a! 

CC 

Date. 

a. 

a) 
> 

Date. 

> 

Date. 

u 
> 

Date. 

to 
a, 

S 
t* 

m 

3 

m 

l-H 

m 

13 

m 

hH 

Sept.  4 

2i 

14 

Sept.  6.... 

2J 

13 

Sept.  6.... 

8 

13 

Sept.  7.... 

3 

2i- 

14 

2i 

13 

3i 

10 

21 

13 

2 

11 

2* 

14 

3 

10 

21 

16 

2* 

14 

2i 

13 

3i 

n 

11 

12 

2*. 

14 

2i 

13 

4 

10 

21 

10 

2* 

13 

n 

14 

3J 

11 

3 

12 

2i 

12 

2 

12 

Sept.  7.... 

3 

91 

21 

13 

2i 

10 

2i 

14 

3i 

10 

2 

13 

2i 

11 

2i 

14 

3 

101 

2* 

10 

2i 

14 

2 

12 

4 

91 

21 

12 

2+ 

14 

2i 

14 

4i 

9i 

21 

113 

oi. 

12 

2i 

13 

3 

10 

If 

24 

2i 

10 

24- 

14 

25 

11 

2 

13 

2i 

12 

2| 

15 

2f 

9^ 

Sept.  8.... 

3 

12 

3i 

13 

2i 

13 

2 

8*- 

3.V 

lU 

2^ 

13 

2J 

14 

3.^ 

91 

4 

91 

21- 

14 

2i 

13 

Oi 

14 

3 

9* 

2i 

13 

2i 

14 

Sept.  7.... 

2i 

14 

Sept.  9.... 

21 

101 

2i 

13 

2i 

13 

2 

12 

31 

9 

2J 

12 

2i 

14 

oi 

14 

3i 

10 

2J 

13 

2i 

13 

2i 

12 

4 

91 

2i 

10 

2^ 

14 

2i 

14 

41 

11 

2i 

10 

2i 

15 

2i 

12 

31 

11 

2i 

14 

o 

12 

2| 

13 

Sept.  11... 

3 

9 

2i 

13 

2i 

12 

2 

9 

2i 

81 

2i 

12 

2i 

13 

2i 

10 

1 

14 

2i 

13 

21 

12 

2i 

13 

31 

10 

2i 

14 

2i 

13 

2i 

15 

4 

11 

2V 

13 

2 

10 

2^ 

14 

31 

91 

2i 

12 

2i 

12 

3 

13 

31 

12 

2J 

13 

2i 

10 

4 

15 

31 

9 

2i 

15 

3 

lOi 

21 

14 

31 

11 

2i 

14 

3^ 

lU 

2i 

14 

3 

10 

2| 

13 

2i 

Hi 

2+ 

15 

n 

12 

2i 

14 

4 

10 

2i 

14 

3 

8 

2i 

2 

2i 

2i 
21- 

14 
10 
12 
13 

12 

o 

2i 

3i 

2f 

3 

9^ 
10 

llf 

iH 
11 

ol 

14 
14 
15 
14 
13 

3 

9 

3" 

3i 

21 

Total 

701 

3,139 

Average.  . 

2.675 

11.98 

Sept.  6 

2* 

14 

3$ 

12 

2i 

14 

2i 

14 

2.!- 

12 

o 

11 

11 


I 


GENERAL  REMARKS  ON  THE  CATTLE  DISEASES 

REPORTED  ON. 


BY  JUlIX  OAMGEE,  JI.  D, 


The  diseases  of  cattle  -wliicli  form  tlie  subjects  of  fhe  three  reports 
herewith  published  are  typical  of  three  distinct  classes  of  disorders 
whicli  teud  to  the  impoverishment  of  the  farmer  and  the  country  at 
large. 

The  first  and  simplest  in  its  origin  and  character  is  an  enzootic  or  indigen- 
ous affection,  localized  in  corn-rearing  States  and  districts,  where,  under 
the  influence  of  abundant  moisture,  and  inattention  to  conditions  which 
prevent  the  propagation  of  parasitic  plants  on  the  farmer's  crops,  a  fungus 
is  formed  which  destroys  the  nutritive  value  of  cornstalks  and  grain. 
These  become  indigestible,  induce  impaction  of  the  third  stomach  and 
constipation,  which  speedily  terminate  in  death.  The  malady  is  not  pro- 
pagated beyond  the  farm  or  stable  where  the  diseased  fodder  is  supplied 
to  stock. 

The  third  is  the  American  cattle  plague  of  18GS,  which,  from  an  igno- 
rance of  its  origin  and  nature,  created  serious  loss,  and,  what  is  proba- 
bly as  bad,  a  panic  that  cannot  readily  be  forgotten,  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic.  Its  study  has  revealed  characters  hitherto  unknown  or  unde- 
scribed  in  relation  to  any  disease  of  man  or  animals.  The  facts  rendered 
show  that  it  is  developed  in  the  hotter  parts  of  the  United  States  bor- 
dering on  the  Gulf  coast  where  lands  are  rich,  retentive,  uudrained,  and 
constitute  the  hotbeds  of  malarious  or  periodic  diseases  in  the  human 
family.  Unlike  these,  so  far  as  present  knowledge  goes,  it  is  capable  of 
propagation  in  an  intensified  form  among  cattle  which  feed  on  pas- 
tures traversed,  in  any  part  of  the  country  beyond  the  original  centers 
of  development,  by  southern  herds.  It  is  not  improbable  that  compara- 
tive pathology  may  here  shed  light  on  the  precise  nature  of  repiittent 
and  intermittent  fevers  in  man;  and  the  fact  that  these  have  not  been 
observed  to  extend  by  a  form  of  contagion  may  be  explained  by  the  con- 
ditions essential  to  the  propagation  of  the  bovine  periodic  fever.  Large 
masses  of  animals  have  to  travel  fresh  from  the  breeding-  grounds  of  this 
indigenous  disease,  and  discharge  large  quantities  of  excrement  on  the 
food  which  is  the  carrier  of  the  morbid  material  into  the  systems  of  cat- 
tle that  are  contaminated  and  die.  It  is  true  that  anthrax,  Sil)erian  boil 
l>lague,  or  carbuncular  fevers  generally,  from  a  peculiar  decomimsition  in 
theliciuids  and  tissues  of  the  a Mected  animals,  are  capable  of  being  trans- 


REMARKS    ON    THE    CATTLE    DISEASES,  163 

ferred  by  its  inoculation  under  favorable  circumstances,  tobealtliy  people, 
and  indeed  to  all  warm-blooded  creatures ;  but  there  are  indigenous  mal- 
adies, somewhat  allied  to  the  splenic  fever  of  cattle,  developed  under  like 
conditions,  and  capable  of  moderate  extension  from  the  districts  where 
they  originate  spontaneously.     But  the  cattle  in  the  south  are  affected 
with  a  maladythatisnot  inoculable,  that  is  not  propagated  by  the  bites 
of  insects  and  by  the  transference  of  decomposed  or  poisoned  blood  and 
tissues  into  the  structures  of  healthy  men  or  animals,  and  manifests  in  its 
method  of  propagation  more  of  the  features  of  cholera  than  of  other  prop- 
erly recorded  malady.    It  does  not  belong  to  the  group  of  epizootics  proper, 
or  contagious  diseases  like  pleuropneumonia,  rinderpest,  and  the  varied 
forms  of  variola.     It  is  not  an  infectious  disease ;  and  the  single  observa- 
tion reported  by  the  ISTew  York  commissioners  cannot  outweigh  the  hun- 
dreds we  have  observed  and  carefully  traced,  and  which  indicate  that  the 
cattle  are  not  discharging,  by  their  breath  or  skin,  into  the  air  around 
them,  the  principles  capable  of  perpetuating  the  malady.    The  plagues 
I)roper  spread  regardless  of  soil,  climate,  food,  geological  formation, 
altitude,  &e.,  wherever  sick  animals  approach  or  touch  healthy  ones. 
Splenic  fever  is  not  communicated  by  a  cow  to  its  calf,  and  is  absolutely 
stoi)ped  by  a  fence,  unless  some  accident  leads  to  the  mingling  together 
of  the  southern  animals  with  others  they  are  capable  of  injuring.     The 
malady,  engendered  with  peculiar  virulence  in  western  or  eastern  cattle, 
is  not,  unless  exceptionally — and  no  properly   attested  exception  has 
come  to  my  knowledge — communicated  by  these  to  other  amimals  that 
have  not  traversed  the  trails  of  Texan  and  other  southern  herds.     It  is  a 
modification,  a  poisoning  of  the  food  and  possibly  of  the  water  tainted 
by  the  manure  of  the  southern  cattle,  whereby  the  malady  is  transmitted. 
It  is  thus  with  human  cholera.     I  do  not  wish  it  to  be  understood  that 
splenic  fever  is  at  all  allied  to  cholera  beyond  the  peculiar  and  ordinary 
method  of  propagation  from  certain  centers.     We   know  nothing  of 
the   spontaneous  development  of  cholera  and   the  centers  whence  it 
springs.     We  can  witness  the  independent  and  primary  i^roduction  of 
the  Texas  or  Florida  fever  by  transporting  western  or  eastern  cattle  to 
the  south,  where,  fed  on  the  pastures  apart  from  other  animals,  they  con- 
tract the  disease  and  die. 

Aniuially  the  Texan  steers  suffer,  so  far  as  my  observations  on  cattle  of 
all  ages  go,  from  this  same  local  influence,  which,  in  their  acclimatized 
systems,  does  not  usually  lead  to  death.  There  is  doubtless  something 
tangible  and  ponderable,  which  some  future  chemist  may  reveal,  that  ren- 
ders the  grasses,  and  maybe  the  waters,  of  the  south  so  deleterious. 

The  disease,  therefore,  to  which  the  third  of  the  annexed  reports  refers, 
is  an  indigenous  or  enzootic  malady,  susceptible  of  moderate  extension 
by  tlie  manner  in  which  the  grasses  of  healthy  regions  are  modified  by 
the  manure  scattered  broadcast  from  the  systems  of  southern  herds.  It 
is  not  a  contagious  plague,  and  Avill  probably  cease  when  the  agriculture 
of  the  soutll  is  fairly  and  fully  developed. 


164  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

Not  SO  witli  the  destructive  malady  the  hiug  pUigue,  or  epizoiitic 
ph'iiro-pneumoiiia,  which  is  silently  but  seriously  ravaging  the  P^asteru 
States.  This  affectiou  coustitutes  the  subject  of  my  sec5ud  report.  Its 
method  of  propagation,  by  diffusion  through  the  air  of  a  specilic  animal 
poison  or  virus,  offers  an  instructive  contrast  to  the  comparatively  harm- 
less disease  of  the  south.  The  lung  ])laguc  hills  slowly  and  surely  wher- 
ever it  penetrates,  without  regard  to  latitude,  breeds,  soils,  conditions  of 
weather,  or  systems  of  cultivation.  It  can  be  stamped  out ;  and  its  propa- 
gation in  a  mild  form  may  be  resorted  to  for  the  protection  of  cattle  that 
have  been  suspected  of  eutering  an  infected  area.  It  attacks  animals 
but  once  iu  their  lifetime,  and  presents  all  the  characters  of  specilic  erup- 
tive fevers,  of  which  the  human  or  oviue  small-pox  may  be  regarded 
typical. 

A  few  words  may  not  be  considered  inappropriate  as  to  the  nature  of 
our  investigations.  They  have  extended  over  a  period  of  ten  months, 
and  iu  all  parts  of  the  United  States  except  in  the  far  west.  The  turthest 
point  w  est  we  have  reached  has  been  near  the  terminus  of  the  Kan- 
sas Pacific  railroad,  and  southwest  to  Corpus  Christi.  The  great  object 
iu  view  has  been  to  determine  and  demonstrate  with  precision  the  causes 
and  signs  of  the  several  diseases  examined,  with  a  view  to  the  sugges- 
tion of  means  of  prevention  and  cure.  The  history  of  special  outbreaks, 
the  methods  of  extension,  the  essential  symptoms  and  pathohigical 
changes  indicated  by  sick  animals,  and  the  institution  of  careful  per- 
sonal inquiries  among  those  who  have  witnessed  the  maladies  at  differ- 
ent periods,  have  specially  engaged  our  attention. 

We  were  first  in  having  opportunities  for  a  careful  study  of  the  changes 
in  temperatiu-e  which  occur  in  splenic  fever,  and,  taken  in  conjunction 
\\ith  similar  observations  originally  made  by  us  in  relation  to  the  rind- 
erpest or  Kussian  murrain,  and  since  in  numerous  outbreaks  of  pleuro- 
pneumonia, it  will  be  found  that  very  definite  and  highly  practical  re- 
sults may  be  anticipated  from  persistence  in  this  method  of  observation. 
Indeed  so  important  is  the  matter  in  connection  with  the  entire  subject 
of  comparative  pathology,  that  it  may  not  be  deemed  inappropriate  to 
give  a  resume  of  our  operations  on  this  particular  point. 

Last  July  we  first  used  the  only  available  thermometers  that  could  be 
obtifined  in  Chicago,  Centigrade  thermometers,  of  French  nuinufacture. 
The  Surgeon  General,  however,  kindly  acceded  to  a  request  made  through 
the  Uei)artment  of  Agriculture,  and  two  carefully  compared  self-regis- 
tering thermometers,  nmde  by  Mr.  L.  Casella,  of  London,  were  forwarded 
to  the  west  for  the  purpose  of  our  incpiiries.  With  these  we  were  ena- 
bled to  correct  and  verify  the  earlier  observations.  The  normal  tempera- 
ture of  cattle  varies  from  100°  to  lO^o  Fahrenheit.  The  average  tem- 
perature of  Texan  cattle  is  from  one  to  two  degrees  higher  than  that  of 
lunthern  steers.  There  may  be  accidental  deviations,  of  which  the  most 
noticealde  is  at  the  period  of  a-strum,  wlien  a  cow  nuiy  indicate  a  tem- 
perature as  high  as  100°  Fahrenheit.     It  is,  however,  reularkable  how 


KEMARKS    ON    THE    CATTLE    DISEASES.  165 

difficult  it  is  in  licaltliy  animals  to  cause  any  great  deviation  from  a  nor- 
mal standard,  even  during  the  hottest  days  of  a  western  summer.  Com- 
parative observations  on  a  number  of  animals  at  the  same  time  consti- 
tute a  valuable  and  essential  test.  It  was,  however,  striking  and  strange 
that  in  examining  Texan  cattle  caught  with  the  lasso,  the  temperatures 
obtained  were  the  same  as  those  among  work  cattle  of  the  same  herds, 
and  which  could  be  handled  readily  near  the  wagons.  Observations  of 
this  kind  are  referred  to  in  the  report  on  splenic  fever. 

The  best  part — and  only  one  which  should  be  chosen — for  the  insertion  of 
the  thermometer,  is  the  rectum.  The  instrument  must  be  introduced  as 
nearly  as  possible  to  the  same  extent  in  all  cases,  and  retained  in  situ  at 
least  three  minutes.  Animals  are  apt  to  defecate  soon  after  the  ther- 
mometer is  passed  in,  and  the  rectum  then  remains  passive  for  a  time. 
This  necessitates  the  withdrawal  and  reintroduction  of  the  instrument, 
and  the  time  required  for  the  observation  must  be  taken  from  the  sec- 
ond intromission. 

By  this  means  animals  in  apparent  health,  grazing  and  moving  in 
perfect  comfort,  are  often  found  sick ;  and  in  the  case  of  a  contagious 
disease  like  pleuropneumonia, this  timely  warning-  is  of  the  highest 
moment. 

In  relation,  however,  to  the  nature  of  a  malady,  much  is  taught  us  by 
the  thermometer.  The  periodic  fever  of  southern  cattle  begins,  like  the 
rinderpest,  with  an  increased  heat  of  the  body.  The  local  changes  ap- 
pear secondary  to  the  general  fever,  though  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  the 
time  that  elapses  from  the  flrst  exaltations  of  temperature  to  the  local 
manifestations.  In  pleuro-pneumonia  it  is  probable,  and  indeed  our 
observations  are  almost  conclusive  on  the  point,  that  there  is  first  a  local 
change  and  commencing-  deposit.  A  material  grows  and  penetrates, 
charged  with  and  dependent  on  the  presence  of  a  specific  poison,  and 
when  it  has  sufficiently  involved  any  important  parts  and  become  com- 
plicated with  ordinary  inflammatory  changes,  the  general  fever  sets  in. 
An  elevated  temperature  is,  however,  observed  in  this  disease  long  before 
a  farmer  or  dairyman  suspects  that  an  animal  is  affected.  This  is  the 
only  Avay  in  which  some  latent  cases  of  pleuro-pneumonia  are  recognized. 

Scientific  men  have  hitherto  fiiiled  in  tracing  the  distinctive  charac- 
ters of  organic  poisons  which  differed  from  each  other,  and  only  recog- 
nized by  the  very  different  effects  produced  on  the  animal  economy. 
Some  attack  a  single  species  of  animal;  others  induce  the  same  disease 
in  a  number  of  species.  The  lung-plague  poison  induces  its  character- 
istic effects  on  cattle ;  the  poison  of  hydrophobia,  most  readily  commu- 
nicated among  feline  and  carnivorous  animals,  is  deadly  to  the  omnivora 
and  vegetable  feeders.  Of  the  peculiar  principles  which  tend  to  the 
diffusion  of  those  diseases  which  are  known  to  us  as  indigenous  in  cer- 
tain latitudes,  and  which  we  must  disting-uish  at  all  times,  in  classifying 
diseases,  from  the  contagious  maladies  of  no  known  ])rimary  source,  we 
have  two  equally  remarkable  instances  in  the  splenic  fever  of  the  south, 


166  DErARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

and  the  chaibou  or  aiitlirax  of  many  parts  of  the  Avorld.  The  one  passes 
from  eatth^  to  catth';  the  other  is  deadly  to  men,  horses,  dogs,  pigs,  and 
other  warm-blooded  animals. 

It  is  evident  that  principles  which  exert  such  a  variety  of  definite  in- 
flu(^nces  must  have  fundamental  characters  to  distinguish  them — that 
the  virus  of  small-pox  may  some  day  be  capable  of  distinction  in  its  virus 
form  from  the  virus  of  rinderpest  or  the  lung  plague. 

As  far  back  as  1S49,  Mr.  L.  E.  Plasse  a  veterinary  surgeon  at  Xiort, 
Deux  Sevres,  in  France,  published  a  work,  illustrated  by  tables  and  a 
map,  in  which  he  announced  the  discovery  of  the  causes  of  epizootics  and 
epidemics,  with  the  distinguishing  features  of  two  forms  of  charbou  or 
anthrax,  the  one  gangrenous  and  the  other  virulent.*  It  is  a  common  error, 
due  mainly  to  the  undetermined  meaning  of  a  much  used  medical  term, 
to  regard  epidemics  and  epizootics  as  typhoid  fevers.  Thus  confounding 
many  maladies,  M.  Plasse,  in  vainglorious  terms  which  characterize  his 
whole  volume  of  near  500  pages,  says:  "JVy/  reconnu  que  les  Jievrcs 
typJtoides,  qui,  cliez  Ics  animaux,  sont  semhlahles  a  celle  de  Vhomme, 
dependent  toujours  d'une  seide  et  menie  eause:  des  champignons  micros- 
copiques  introduits  dans  Veconomie  animale par  les  aliments ;  et  je  demon- 
trerai  clairement  que  Unites  les  causes  qui  ont  etc  indiquees  ne  sont  quHn- 
directes  et  determinantes ;  qu^elles  sont  le  resultat  de  Verreur;  et  que  la 
veritable  cause  est  une  et  invariable:^  M.  Plasse  was  by  uo  means  the 
first  to  point  to  the  lower  forms  of  vegetable  life  as  causes  of  disease  in 
men  and  animals;  but  it  would  be  an  unprofitable  task  to  enlarge  on  the 
earlier  hints  in  this  great  field  of  error  and  of  mystery.  Plasse  has  the 
credit  of  first  publishing  a  comprehensive  volume  on  the  subject;  and  in 
his  succinct  expose  of  the  work  before  us,  an  expose  which  he  read 
before  the  Institute  of  France  on  the  9th  of  October,  1848,  he  says : 
"  I  have  had  to  substitute  the  general  denomination  of  cryptogamy  for 
the  various  expressions  applied  to  the  diseases  called  typhoid,  and  I  have 
recognized  four  states  of  the  cryptogamic  maladies. 

"  First  state,  cryptogamic  incuhation.  The  toxic  principle  here  may 
sojourn  in  the  animal  economy  during  a  greater  or  less  length  of  time, 
without  causing  marked  functional  disturbance;  the  disease  will  never- 
theless be  recognized  by  certain  general  symptoms. 

"  Second  state,  cryptogamiG  elimination.  This  is  the  discharge  of  the 
poisonous  principle  from  the  animal  economy,  without  apparent  func- 
tional trouble,  whether  by  the  excretions,  the  embryo  in  abortion,  or  the 
sucking  animal. 

"  Third  state,  external  cryptogamy.  The  morbid  principle  is  eliminated 
without  apparent  disturbance,  and  is  fixed  in  a  more  or  less  apparent 
manner  on  the  surface  of  the  skin,  or  in  certain  cavities  which  have  exter- 
nal openings.  In  this  category  are  included  glanders,  farcy  scrofula, 
lupus,  canker  of  horses'  feet,  (crapaud,)  elephantiasis,  tinea,  lepra,  &c. 

*  Ddcouverte  lies  causes  lies  fipizooties  et  des  1^4>i»loiiii(s  ;  Causes  ct  distiuctiou  de 
deux  genres.dc  Cliurl><)ii.  Ac.    Par  L.  E.  Plasse.    I'oitiers,  1^49. 


I 


REMAKKS    ON    THE    CATTLE    DISEASES.  167 

Fourth  state,  eryptogamic  fever.  Here  tlie  toxic  principle  is  precipita- 
ted ill  tlie  incubative  stage,  either  in  the  liquids  or  in  the  solids,  in  the 
interior,  and  in  a  manner  whereby  it  determines  a  more  or  less  intense 
and  very  various  reaction,  according  to  the  kind  of  fungus  and  the  system 
which  is  affected ;  thence  the  different  forms  of  typhoid  fevers,  such  as 
epizo(itic  aphthic,  grippe,  the  contagious  typhus  of  cattle,  suette  miliaire, 
gangrenous  pleuropneumonia,  variola,  scarlatina,"  &c. 

M.  Plasse  heralded  forth  his  great  diseoVerics  in  terms  of  no  doubt- 
ful  meaning:  ^'- Cest  a  la  medicine  veterinaire  qiCil  etait  reserve  War- 
river  a  ces  grandes  decouvertes.''^  It  might  be  thought  that  he  had 
arrived  at  this  result  after  long  and  painful  researches  on  cryptogamic 
botany,  and  demonstrating,  the  presence  of  the  lower  forms  of  plants  in 
the  tissues  of  such  animals,  or  in  the  food  which  communicated  disease. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  M.  Plasse's  observations  referred  rather  to  the 
character  of  seasons  and  localities  remarkable  for  the  development  of 
cryptogamic  vegetation,  and  suppposed  to  induce  epidemics  and  epi- 
zootics. He  has  recorded  some  observations  on  intestinal  disturbance, 
induced  by  grasses  and  grains  attacked  by  fungi  which  he  does  not 
name ;  but,  apart  from  these  imi)erfect  records,  his  entire  work  is  based 
on  the  crudest  hypotheses. 

It  is  not  my  object  here  to  give  a  history  of  the  cryi^togamic  theories 
in  relation  to  the  origin  of  disease,  nor  to  review  the  able  work  of 
Charles  Eobin  on  the  parisitic  plants  living  on  man  and  animals,  nor 
analyze  the  observations  of  Swayne,  Brittain,  Budd,  Baly,  Sull,  Griffith, 
Bennett,  Kobertson,  Graves,  Swain,  Salisbury,  Hallier,  Eichardson, 
Duvaiue,  IJu  Bary,  and  many  more.  Apart  from  the  views  enunciated  and 
slender  facts  recorded,  it  seems  to  me  essential  to  the  completion  of  the 
work  nndertaken  to  attempt  some  means  whereby  it  might  be  shown 
whether  the  periodic,  or  Texas,  fever  and  the  lung  plague  did  owe  their 
origin,  as  alleged  by  the  New  York  commissioners  for  the  first,  and  Hal- 
lies  and  Weiss  for  the  second,  to  a  peculiar  cryptogamic  vegetation. 
When  in  the  west  last  summer  I  had  occasion  to  recommend  an  investi- 
gation of  the  causes  of  the  prevailing  cattle  fever  in  the  South ;  and  on 
its  being  resolved  that  I  should  visit  Texas  for  the  purposes  of  this 
inquiry,  I  obtained  the  assent  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  to  the 
selection  of  Mr.  H.  W.  Ravenel,  of  Aiken,  South  Carolina,  so  well  known 
as  an  enthusiastic  and  reliable  observer  and  collector  in  the  field  of 
cryptogamic  botany,  to  accompany  me. 

At  the  same  time.  Dr.  J.  S.  Billings  and  Dr.  E.  Curtis,  whose  attention 
has  been  specially  directed  to  the  cryptogamic  origin  of  disease,  offered 
to  co-operate  with  me,  if  I  Avould  supply  material  for  satisfactory  e*[K^ri. 
ments  regarding  the  two  disc^ases  named.  By  a  favorable  arrangement 
between  the  agricultural  and  army  medical  departments,  these  reports 
are  now  enriched  by  observations  of  the  most  reliable  and  interesting- 
description. 


REMARKS  ON  THE  IXODES  BO  VIS. 


BY  C.   V.   RILEY,   ST.   LOUIS,   MISSOUKI. 

tt  

IXODES  BOYIS,  (Riley.) 

A  reddish,  coriaceous,  flattened  species,  witli  tlie  body  oblong-oval 
contracted  just  behind  the  middle,  and  with  two  longitudinal  impres- 
sions above  this  contraction,  and  three  below  it,  more  especially  visible 
in  the  dried  specimen.  Head  short  and  broad,  not  spined  behind, 
with  two  deep,  round  pits.  Palpi  and  beak  together  unusually  short, 
the  palpi  being  slender.  Labium  short  and  broad,  densely  spined 
beneath.  Mandibles  smooth  above,  with  terminal  hooks.  Thoracic 
shield  distinct,  one-third  longer  than  wide,  smooth  and  polished ;  convex, 
with  the  lyrate  medial  convexity  very  distinct.  Legs  long  and  slender, 
pale  testaceous  red;  coxjb  not  spined.  Length  of  body,  .15  of  an  inch; 
width,  .09  of  an  inch.     Missouri  Coll.,  C.  V.  Eiley. 

This  is  the  cattle  tick  of  the  Western  States.  Several  hundred  speci- 
mens, in  different  stages  of  growth,  have  also  been  received  from  Pulvon, 
west  coast  of  Nicaragua,  taken  from  the  horned  cattle,  and  on  a  species  of 
dasyprocta,  by  Mr.  J.  McNeil.  They  preserve  the  elongated  flattened 
form,  with  the  body  contracted  behind  the  middle,  by  which  this  species 
may  be  easily  identified.  The  largest  specimens  measure  .50  by  .30  of  an 
inch.  When  gorged  with  blood  they  are  nearly  as  thick  through  as  they 
are  broad.  In  the  freshly  hatched  hexapodous  young,  and  the  young  in 
the  next  stage  of  growth,  the  thoracic  shield  is  one-third  the  size  of 
the  whole  body,  which  is  pale  yellowish,  with  very  distinct  crenulations 
on  the  hinder  edge.  The  fourth  pair  of  legs  are  added  apparently  at  the 
first  moult.    It  is  called  "garapata"  by  the  inhabitants  of  Nicaragua. 


LETTER  FROM  H,  ¥,  RAVENEL,  ESQ. 


I 


To  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C.  : 

Sm:  In  accordance  with  an  invitation  to  accompany  Professor  Gamgee 
to  Texas,  and  to  make  an  examination  of  tlie  botany  of  the  country  where 
he  investigated  the  cattle  disease,  and  especially  to  direct  attention  to 
the  lo^^■QV  cryptogamic  flora,  the  fimgi,  and  algae,  and  also  to  examine 
the  grasses  and  other  plants  furnishing  food  for  cattle,  I  reached  Gal- 
veston on  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  March,  and  proceeded  at  once  to 
Houston  to  join  Professor  Gamgee. 

After  making  a  cursory  examination  into  the  pastures  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Houston,  I  accepted  an  invitation  from  Colonel  Ashbell  Smith 
to  visit  his  farm  at  Galveston  Bay,  Harris  County,*  and  reached  that 
place  on  the  30th.  Here  T  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  a  variety  of 
soils,  prairie  as  well  a*s  heavily  timbered  land,  the  latter  rather  rare 
in  this  part  of  Texas.  Colonel  Smith  offered  me  ample  facilities  for 
investigation,  and  from  his  long  residence  in  the  country,  and  exten- 
sive information,  I  was  enabled  to  derive  much  benefit.  I  spent  five 
days  at  this  place,  and  made  large  collections  of  fungi  and  some  few 
grasses.  I  made  an  examination  also  of  hay  which  had  been  cut  last 
summer  and  stacked  in  the  fields.  It  was  perfectly  sound,  and  of  bright 
and  healthy  color,  without  any  indication  of  mouldiness  or  parasitic 
growth.  The  hay  was  cut  from  a  body  of  prairie  land  inclosed  by  a 
fence,  a  portion  of  which  had  been  biu^nt  off  for  the  purpose.  The 
remaining  portion  in  the  old  dried  grasses  of  the  last  season  presented  no 
different  appearance  from  dried  grasses  in  similar  situations;  nothing  to 
indicate  any  increased  growth  of  parasitic  fungi,  or  of  having  suffered 
from  that  cause.  Colonel  Smith  was  good  enough  to  furnish  me  with 
notes  of  his  place,  which  I  append,  to  give  an  idea  of  the  quality  and 
situation  of  his  lands : 

"The Evergreen  estate  is  situated  in  the  29°  42'  north  latitude,  at  the 
head  of  Galveston  Bay,  within  the  debouchure  of  the  united  waters  of 
Buffalo  Bayou  and  the  San  Jacinto  River,  over  Clopper's  Bar,  and  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river.  It  is  washed  in  its  rear  by  the  Cedar  Bayou,  which 
empties  into  Galveston  Bay  some  two  miles  lower  down.  This  bnyouHs 
from  tweuty-five  to  thirty  feet  deep.  There  is  scarcely  any  swamp  or 
bottom,  properly  so  called.  The  g<M)logical  formation  is  alluvial.  The 
soil  on  the  San  Jaciuto  or  bay  side  is  chiefly  a  sandy  loam.  That  at  the 
Cedar  Bayou  is  a  very  black,  stiff  soil,  and  commonly  known  in  this  State 
as  '  hog  wallow,'  from  numerous  depressions  of  the  surface  as  if  made 


170  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

by  the  wallowing  of  hogs.  The  estate  comprises  about  four  thousand 
acres,  pretty  ecpially  divided  in  quantity  into  prairie  and  heavily  tim- 
bered land;  Oak -and  cedar  are  the  prevailing  timber.  There  are  also 
pines,  hackberry,  pecan,  elm,  a«h,  i)hini,  persimmon,  &c.,  &c.  There 
are  four  species  of  grapes,  at  least.  The  mustang  and  niuscardine 
abound  in  immense  quantities.  Both  these  vinos,  which  are  heavy  bear- 
ers, make  an  excellent  wine.  The  grasses  are  numerous;  those  growing 
si)ontaneously  on  the  black  lands,  when  protected  from  the  bite  of  ani- 
mals by  inclosure,  make  an  excellent  hay.  The  adjacent  waters  modify 
the  temperature  of  the  air  most  sensibly,  both  in  summer  and  winter. 
The  winter  cold  is  about  5^  milder  than  that  of  Houston,  as  shown  by  a 
comparison  of  thermometers.  The  fields  when  cultivated  in  corn,  cotton, 
and  sugar  cane,  as  before  the  war,  yield  abundantl.y." 

After  my  return  to  Houston  I  went  into  the  country,  about  three 
miles  from  the  town,  to  a  farm-house  on  the  Buffalo  Bayou,  where  I 
employed  about  two  weeks  in  examining  the.  pastures  and  grasses  and 
making    collections    of   fungi    and    other   cryptogams.     The  wooded 
growth  along  the  .banks  of  the  bayou,  consisting  of  Magnolia,  Laurus, 
Ilex,  TJngnadia  or  Spanish  buckeye.  Pecan,  Tilia,  &c.,  &c.,  afford  a  fine 
field  for  the  fungi,  and  at  this  place  I  collected  about  two  hundred  dis- 
tinct species.     The  pastures  were  quite  green,  but  the  grass  still  young 
and  scarcely  sufficiently  grown  to  be  identified.     I  collected  here  all 
that  were  in  flower  and  could  be  distinguished.     My  attention  was 
directed  to  their  examination,  especially  to  ascertain  the  presence  of  the 
lower  entophytal  forms  of  fungi  or  algte.     I  found  them  remarkably  free 
of  such  parasites  as  I  expected  from  the  early  period  of  the  year,  (the 
Uredos,  Ustilagos,  Puccinias,  Tilletia,  and  other  entdphytes  most  generally 
appearing  later  in  the  season,)  with  the  exception  of  a  few  species,  and 
they  not  in  any  abundance;  and  a  Helminthosporium  which  infests  the 
same  grass  {Sporohohis  Indicus)  here  in  the  Southern  Atlantic  States.    I 
found  no  fungus  on  the  grasses  or  other  cattle  food  to  attract  my  notice. 
This  place,  (Dr.  Perl's  beef  packery,)  on  the  Buffalo  Bayou,  and  Colonel 
'smith's  farm,  are  both  in  Harris  County.     With  very  few  exceptions  my 
entire  collection  of  fungi,  amounting  to  nearly  three  hundred  species, 
was  made  at  these  two  places ;  and  it  was  also  here  that  Professor  Gam- 
gee  had  the  opportunity  of  examining  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  cattle, 
collected  from  the  neighboring  pastures  and  slaughtered  at  the  packery. 
On  the  I'.'jd  of  April  we  left  Houston  by  steamer,  and  reached  Galves- 
ton the  next  morning,  and  on  the  2Ctli  took  the  steamer  for  Indianola, 
where  we  arrived  on  the  morning  of  the  27tli.     Finding  a  sail  packet 
ready  to  start  for  Corpus  Christi,  we  took  passage  and  reached  the  latter 
place  on  the  20th.     The  next  day  we  rode  out  into  the  country  some 
six  or  eight  miles  from  the  town,  passing  tlnougli  the  "chaparral"  or 
pastures  densely  set  with  cactus  and  various  tliorny  shrubs.     For  several 
miles  above  C'orpus  Christi  we  passed  tlirough  the  mixed  growth  of  prairie 
and  chaparral.    On  the  Nueces  Bay,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  the  face  of 


FUNGI    OF    TEXAS. 


•171 


the  country  was  beautiful,  with  a  gentle  rolling  surtace  some  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  above  the  waters  of  the  bay,  thickly  covered  with  grasses 
and  flowering  plants;  and,  interspqj'sed  with  clumps  of- the  graceful  mes- 
quite  tree,  {Algarobia  glamhdosa,)  it  presented  the  appearance  of  a  well- 
kept  lawn.  On  these  prairies  the  grasses  were  much  further  advanced 
in  growth  than  further  north,  and  I  added  to  my  collection  many  I  had 
not  previously  seen,  and  especially  one  or  two  species  of  mesquite  grass. 

On  our  return  to  Indianola,  about  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  north  of 
Corpus  Christi,  we  w^nt  out  some  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  into  the  coun- 
try— all  prairie — and  here  I  was  also  enabled  to  add  largely  to  my  col- 
lection of  grasses  and  other  phaenogamous  plants.  I  saw  but  few  cryp- 
togams either  at  Corpus  Christi  or  Indianola,  a  few  lichens  and  two  or 
three  species  of  fungi  comprising  all  from  those  localities.  These  prairie 
grasses  were  as  free  of  cryptogamic  growth  as  those  about  Houston,  and 
although  my  attention  was  specially  directed  to  them,  I  could  see 
nothing  to  excite  suspicion  as  to  their  being  differently  affected  from 
grasses  in  other  places.  There  were  certainly  no  entophytal  fungi  infest- 
ing them  at  that  time  in  sufficient  quantity  to  attract  my  notice. 

The  lands  which  I  saw  in  Texas  were  all  fertile,  some  of  them  ex- 
tremely so.  Most  of  the  sm^face  was  of  a  fine  clayey  loam,  in  some 
places  rather  tenacious.  From  this  cause  during  a  wet  spring,  as  the 
last  one  was,  it  was  difficult  to  prepare  for  cultivation.  I  was  informed 
along  the  coast  that  the  best  pastures  and  the  most  nutritious  grasses 
were  found  higher  up,  from  fifty  to  sixty  miles  above,  and  there  are  the 
best  grazing  lands. 

About  Houston  the  grasses  are  killed  for  a  few  months  during  winter, 
but  at  Corpus  Christi  and  along  the  southern  coast  they  remain  green 
and  furnish  good  ])asture  all  the  year  round.  I  here  present  an  analysis 
of  my  collection  of  fungi  according  to  their  natural  orders,  and  a  com- 
parison with  those  of  Eev.  Dr.  Curtis's  i^orth  Carolina  collection,  the 
only  full  catalogue  published  in  the  United  States  : 


Orders. 

Texan. 

Fungi. 

N.  Carolina. 

Fungi. 

Hymenomycetcs 

Ascomyeetoa 

Xo.  of  species. 
64 
151 
13 

26 

28 

Percentage. 
22 
52 

4 

9 

9 

Xo.  of  apccks. 
935 
715 
150 
188 
341 

Percentage. 
39 
34 

Gtistcroiiivfotcs 

6 

Hyj)hoinycetes 

Couiomycetes 

8 
14 

My  whole  collection  amounts  to  three  hundred  and  fifteen  numbers ; 
l)ut  deducting  for  species  too  old  to  be  determined,  and  some  reiucsented 
under  other  numbers,  thirty,  the  wliole  number  may  be  estimated  at 
about  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  good  species. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  comparison  that  the  Texan  falls  below  the 


172  DEPARTMENT   OF    AGRICULTURE. 

Xortli  Carolina  collection  in  relation  to  numbers  of  Ilymenoniycetes,  an 
order  which  contains  the  Agarics,  Boleti  and  other  large  and  fleshy 
species  very  dillicult  to  preserve  except  in  dry  weather.  The  number, 
however,  which  I  saw  were  few,  and  1  was  impressed  at  the  time  with 
the  A'ery  few  representatives  of  the  order  in  Texas.  Perhaps  later  in 
the  season  that  ine(iuality  would  not  have  been  observed.  I  was  also 
surprised  to  find  comparatively  so  few  of  the  Entophytal  Couiomycetes 
which  infest  living  plants,  the  rusts,  smuts,  bunts,  &c.  This  diflerence 
would  also  probably  be  less  at  a  later  period  of  the  season,  as  it  is  mostly 
towards  autumn,  when  the  seeds  of  grasses  are  matui-ing  and  the  leaves 
declining,  that  they  are  in  the  greatest  profusion. 

Attention  has  been  drawn  in  the  last  few  years  to  the  "Texan  cattle 
disease,"  and  much  interest  has  been  elicited  as  to  the  nature  and  cause  of 
this  disease.  In  the  voluminous  and  very  able  "  Report  of  the  iSTew  York 
State  commissioners  in  connection  with  the  Metropolitan  Board  of  Health 
of  Xew  York  City,"  this  subject  has  been  very  thoroughly  investigated, 
and  one  of  the  results  which  seem  to  be  definitely  reached  is  the  con- 
stant and  universal  presence  in  the  blood  and  bile  of  the  diseased  animals 
of  certain  cryptogamic  forms  of  vegetation  (Micrococci  and  Cryi>tococci 
so-called)  primordial  spores  or  cells,  and  which,  nnder  the  skillful  ma- 
nipulation of  Professor  Hallier,  of  Jena,  have  developed  themselves  into 
a  distinct  fungus  plant  which  he  names  Coniothecium  Stilcsianum,  after 
the  distinguished  microscopist  on  the  'New  York  board,  who  first  discov- 
ered them.  Professor  Hallier,  in  his  letter  of  December  18, 18GS,  to  Dr. 
Harris,  of  the  Metropolitan  Board,  says  in  regard  to  the  plant :  "  Perhaps 
you  may  succeed  in  finding  out  the  places  where  this  Coniothecium  grows 
in  nature.  At  all  events,  it  is  a  parasitical  fungus  growing  on  plants, 
and  to  be  looked  for  in  the  food  of  the  wild  bullocks." 

Whether  my  examination  of  a  limited  portion  of  the  flora  of  Texas, 
and  comprised  in  so  short  a  time,  Avill  throw  any  light  upon  these  inter- 
esting questions,  I  cannot  tell.  My  observations  were  made  with  as 
much  diligence  and  care  as  I  could  command,  and  present,  as  faithfully 
as  I  am  able  to  give  them,  the  true  condition  of  the  pastures  and  the 
cryptogamic  vegetation  of  the  region  of  country  I  visited.  As  far  as  I 
was  able  to  examine,  I  found  no  species  of  Coniothecium  on  pasture 
gi'asses  or  on  tlio  dried  hay.  This,  1  know,  is  only  negative  evidence. 
The  spores  of  these  minute  fungi,  wiien  they  exist,  are  generally  in 
great  abundance,  and  may  be  wafted  about  by  winds  and  carried  by 
rains  into  rivers  and  pools  of  surface  water  which  the  animals  drink. 
The  nuxJuH  operandi  of  these  subtle  agents  of  mischief,  {semina  mor- 
horum,)  and  the  manner  in  which  they  gain  access  to  the  animal  system, 
have  long  baCHed  the  scrutiny  of  scientific  men.  To  establish  the  fact  of 
dircet  agency  in  any  of  these  forms  of  vegetation,  and  to  trace  satisfac- 
torily the  connection  between  cause  and  elfect,  will  require  cumulative 
proof  of  very  strong  and  unquestionable  character.  The  phases  through 
which  they  pass,  and  the  different  forms  they  assume  at  various  periods 


FUNGI    OF    TEXAS.  173 

of  tlieir  growth,  suggesting'  an  analogy  with  tlie  imrtlwno-genesis  (or 
alternation  of  generations)  in  tlie  animal  kingdom,  is  another  element  of 
difficulty  in  the  solution  of  this  question.  Such  investigations,  however, 
as  those  undertaken  by  the  Xew  York  Commissioners  conducted  as  they 
have  been  in  a  truly  scientific  and  philosophical  spirit,  must  necessarily 
result  in  throwing  light  upon  the  subject  and  be  ultimately  crowned  with 
success. 

My  collection  of  pha'^nogamous  plants  comprises  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy  species.  Of  these  about  two-thirds  consist  of  graminese 
and  cyperaceffi,  comprising  the  grasses  proper  and  the  rushes,  sedges, 
and  reeds,  and  water  grasses.  I  am  now  engaged  in  their  examination, 
and  will  furnish  to  the  Agricultural  Department  a  full  series.  Besides 
these,  I  collected  such  lichens  and  mosses  as  I  could  readily  obtain, 
specimens  of  which  will  also  be  prepared  for  the  department. 

Eeca/pitulation  of  collection  made  in  Texas. 

Species. 

Grasses  and  other  phaeuogamous  plants,  about 170 

Fungi,  about 285 

AlgTC,  about 25 

Musci  and  Hepaticoe,  about 35 

Lichens,  about 85 

Total,  about 600 

•  Kespectfully  submitted : 

H.  W.  EAYENEL. 

Aiken,  South  Cakolina,  June  21,  1869. 


REPORT  OF  RESll.TS  OF  HXA:\ITXATI0NS  OF  FLUIDS  OF  DTSEASED  CATTLE 
WITH  REFERENCE  TO  PliESENGE  OF  CRYPTOGAAIIC  GROWTHS. 


1!Y    1U!KVET   LIKUTF.XANT   COLONKL  J.  S.  HILLIX(;S,    ASSISTANT   SUKGKON  U.  S.  ARMY,  AND 
BKKVKT  MAJOR  EDWARD  CUR'JIS,  ASSISTANT  SURGEON  U.  S.  ARMY. 


In  accordance  with  the  request  of  tlie  Honorable  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
cnltiire,  and  with  instructions  received  from  the  Snrgeon  General  United 
States  Army,  to  investigate  the  question  of  the  possible  cryptogamic 
origin  of  cattle  diseases,  we  have  carefully  examined  many  samples  of 
blood  and  secretions  from  diseased  cattle,  furnished  us  from  time  to  time 
by  Professor  Gamgee,  and  have  experimented  with  them  in  various 
Avays.     The  residts  of  our  investigations  we  have  to  report  as  follows: 

The  questions  which  we  have  endeavored  to  answer  are  these : 

1st.  Are  any  forms  of  cryptogamic  growth  present  during  life  in  the 
blood  or  secretions  of  the  diseased  animals  ? 

2d.  If  so,  of  what  character  are  they,  and  what  is  their  probable  source  f 

Supposing  the  above*  queries  answered,  there  would  still  remain  the 
problem  of  the  nature  of  the  connection  between  the  cryptogam  and  the 
disease,  a  problem  which  we  have  not  attempted  to  discuss. 

As  the  fungi  are  the  only  cryptogams  which  it  is  necessary  to  con- 
sider, reference  will  be  made  to  these  only. 

The  fnngi  which  are  supposed  to  cause  disease  in  animals  are,  when 
in  their  i^erfect  state,  or  at  least  in  such  a  state  that  they  can  be  identi- 
fied, composed  of  mycelium  and  spores.  But  according  to  the  advocates 
of  the  cryptogamic  origin  of  disease,  neither  the  mycelium  nor  the  spores 
of  the  fungus  that  produces  the  maladyarenecessarily  or  even  usually  to 
be  found  in  the  fluids  or  tissues  of  the  affected  animal,  their  theory  being 
that  the  disease  is  pro'duced  by  the  presence  in  the  economy  of  minute 
particles  of  protoplasm,  (micrococcus  of  Hallier,)  resulting  from  develop- 
ment and  breaking  up  of  the  spores  or mjcelium  of  a  fungus;  from  which 
granules,  they  assert,  can  be  developed  perfect  forms  of  fungi,  of  recog- 
nizable genera  and  species,  by  proper  "  cultivation"  outside  of  the  body  of 
the  animal  fluids  containing  them. 

Thus,  when  the  blood  of  a  pleuro-pneumonic  cow  fresh  from  the  vein 
is  examined  with  a  magnifying  i)ower  of  1,200  diameters  linear,  nothing 
distinctive  or  unusual  may  appear;  the  red  and  white  blood  corpuscles 
may  be  i>erf<'ctly  normal,  and  nothing  like  spcu-es  or  mycelium  will  be 
seen.  I>ut  there  will  j)robably  be,  either  single  or  in  masses,  some  minute 
granules  or  molecules  appearing  as  glistening  points  scattered  over  the 
field.  If  such  are  not  present  at  first,  by  keeping  the  blood  exposed  to 
tlie  air  for  a  few  hours  they  may  be  found  in  abundance. 

Now  it  is  these  little  molecules  which  are  asserted  to  cause  disease  by 
their  presence  in  the  animal  economy,  and  which  are  claimed  to  be  vege- 


INVESTIGATION    AS    TO    ORIGIN    OF    CATTLE    DISEASES.        175 

talile  ill  tlieir  nature,  as  being  developed  from  and  capable  of  reproduc- 
ing certain  common  fungi,  popularly  known  as  rusts,  smuts,  or  molds. 
To  prove  tlie  truth  of  the  latter  .statement,  experiments  have  been 
made  by  various  investigators  on  the  principle  of  placing  the  fluids  con- 
taining the  micrococcus  in  the  proper  conditions  as  regards  warmth  and 
moisture  for  the  development  of  fungi;  supplying  the  germs  with  suita- 
ble pabulum  for  their  nourishment,  and  adopting  such  precautions  as 
are  possible  against  the  fortnitous  introduction  of  spores  of  fungi  from 
the  atmosphere.  And  if  under  such  circumstances  a  mold  or  mildew 
appears  upon  the  suspected  matter,  the  argument  is  that  such  mold 
necessarily  sprang  from  the  micrococcus  granules  as  its  parent  germs, 
and  therefore  represents  the  perfect  fungus  of  which  such  micrococcus 
is  a  special  form. 

Xow,  since  the  spores  of  the  common  molds  are  almost  omnipresent, 
the  conclusiveness  of  all  such  experiments  must  depend  upon  the  possi- 
bility of  showing  that  all  extraneous  bodies  have  been  perfectly  excluded 
from  the  fluids  cultivated. 

in  detailing  our  own  experiments  in  this  direction,  therefore,  we  give 
a  somewhat  minute  description  of  the  apparatus  and  processes  employed  ; 
partly  that  the  value  of  the  results  obtained  may  be  judged  by  it,  and 
in  part  because  it  may  be  of  use  to  others  attempting  a  similar  line  of 
research. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  obtain  the  suspected  fluids  in  a  state 
of  purity,  without  risk  of  contamination  by  spores  floating  in  the 
atmosphere,  and  in  such  a  manner  that  they  can  be  preserved  for  some- 
time without  risk  of  material  change. 

To  eftect  this  we  take  a  glass  tube  three-sixteenths  of  an  inch  or  so  in 
diameter,  seal  oue  end  by  the  flame  of  a  lamp,  and,  at  a  point  about  three 
inches  from  the  sealed  end,  draw  it  out  to  a  slender  tube.  (Fig.  14-rt.) 
The  tube  is  then  held  nearly  upright  in  the  flame  of  a  Bunsen  burner 
until  the  whole  of  the  sealed  end  up  to  the  narrow  neck  is  red  hot.  The 
part  in  the  flame  is  held  with  pincers,  the  other  end  in  the  fingers,  and 
when  the  requisite  heat  is  obtained  the  slender  neck  is  rapidly  drawn  to 

a  point  and  sealed.     We  ^^-~~—  ^      -^  — ) 

now  have  a  pointed,  her-  , 

nietically- sealed     tube,  ^_...== — ' 

(Fig.  14-?^,)  in  which  there  Fig.  14. 

is  a  partial  vacuum,  and  in  which  by  the  red  heat  all  organic  matters 

have  been  destroyed. 

This  we  call  a  "  vacuum  tube." 

Suppose,  now,  that  we  want  some  blood  for  experiment.  As  soon  as 
possible  after  the  death  of  the  animal,  lay  bare  the  jugular  vein,  prick  it 
with  a  lancet,  introduce  the  i)uiuted  end  of  the  tube  and  break  it  oft" 
within  the  vein,  i^ressure  being  at  the  same  time  made  upon  the  vessel 
from  above  and  below  towards  the  opening,  by  the  fingers  of  an  assist- 
ant. The  blood  will  rush  into  the  tube,  and  if  it  has  been  properly 
made,  will  fill  it  for  three-fourths  of  its  length.     Then,  holding  a  lighted 


17.6 


DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


spirit  lamp  or  candle  close  to  the  vein,  withdraw  the  point  of  the  tube 
directly  from  the  vessel  into  the  flame,  and  hold  it  there  until  sealed. 

If  the  oi^eration  has  been  properly  performed,  and  the  blood  be  healthy, 
it  will  coagulate  and  then  remain  unchanged  for  an  indefinite  i)eriod. 

Exudates  in  the  pleural  or  peritoneal  cavities,  bile,  urine,  «&c.,  are 
obtained  and  preserved  in  the  same  way. 

The  next  step  is  to  place  the  material  thus  obtained  in  favorable  con- 
ditions for  the  growth  and  development  of  any  fungus  germs  which  it 
may  contain.  The  requisites  for  this  purpose  are  warmth,  moisture,  a 
supply  of  nutritive  material,  and  exclusion  of  foreign  spores. 
With  regard  to  this  last  point,  we  reasoned  as  follows : 
By  no  amount  of  precautious  or  of  complexity  of  apparatus  is  it  possible 
to  secure  such  absolute  isolation  of  a  fragment  of  tissue  or  a  quantity  of 
blood  from  possible  contact  with  foreign  spores,  that  the  results  obtaiued 
from  its  cultivation  can  be  considered  as  positively  conclusive.  By  no 
meaus  known  to  us  can  a  piece  of  lung  be  transferred  from  the  body  of 
an  animal  to  the  interior  of  a  glass  flask  without  contact  with  the  atmos- 
phere and  with  instruments,  nor  even  with  the  more  manageable  blood  can 
we  be  absolutely  certain  when  we  see  its  surface  covered  with  mold,  that 
the  possibly  single  spore  from  which  that  forest  sprang  must  infallibly 
have  been  in  the  vein  of  the  animal  whence  the  blood  was  (b'uwn.  It 
was  felt,  therefore,  that  to  adopt  at  the  outset  extraordinary  precautious 
against  the  introduction  of  foreign  spores  would  be  more  apt  to  lead  to 
error  than  even  taking  none  at  all.  The  method  of  comparison  was 
therefore  resorted  to. 

Let  us  first  see,  we  argued,  whether,  without  taking  special  pains  to 
prevent  the  entrance  of  extraneous  matters,  the  tissues  and  fluids  of  a 
diseased  animal  will  produce  fungi  which  healthy  tissues  and  fluids 
placed  side  by  side  with  them  will  uot.  The  apparatus  employed  con- 
sisted of  the  following : 
1st.  The  so-called  "  isolation  apparatus." 

This  consists  of  a  thin  flat-bottomed  flask  of  from  four  to  eight  ounces 

capacity,  closed  by  a  cork  dipped  in  parafiQn. 
Through  the  cork  passes  a  glass  tube  bent 
twice  at  right  angles,  reachiug  about  two 
inches  into  the  flask,  and  having  the  exter- 
nal end  loosely  closed  by  a  pledget  of  dry 
cotton  or  jewelers'  wool.    (Fig.  15.) 

This  is  used  in  operating  upon  consider- 
able quantities  or  masses  of  material  which 
are  to  remain  undisturbed  for  several  days, 
weeks,  or  months. 

To  follow  out  the  changes  which  occur 
from  day  to  day,  and  especially  to  trace 
under  the  microscope  the  conunencemeut 
and  progress  of  any  fungus  growth,  grow- 
ing slides  of  various  patterns,  and  the  so- 


Fig.  15. 


INVESTIGATION    AS    TO    ORIGIN    OF    CATTLE    DISEASES.        177 


called  culture  apparatus  were  employed.     This  last  was  made  as  fol- 
lows : 

lu  a  flat  glass  capsule,  six  iuclies  iu  diameter  and  one  and  a  lialf  iucli 
high,  is  placed  a  porcelaiu  stand  two  inches  high,  on  which  is  laid  a  glass 
plate,  which  serves  as  a  shelf  to  hold  watch  glasses,  growing  slides,  &c. 
In  the  capsule  covering  the  stand  and  plate  stands  a  bell-jar,  closed  at 
the  top  by  a  rubber  cork  or  cork 
dipped  in  paraflin,  through 
which  passes  a  tube  bent  and 
packed  with  cotton,  as  in  the 
isolation  apparatus.  (Fig.  16.) 
When  in  use  the  external  space 
between  the  bell-jar  and  the 
capsule  is  filled  with  a  strong 
solution  of  permanganate  of 
potash.  We  thus  obtain  a  moist 
chamber,  which,  by  means  of  a 
water  bath,  can  be  readily  kept 
at  any  desired  temperature. 

The  above-described  forms  of 
apparatus  are  essentially  those 
used  by  Hallier,  but  he  provides 
for  drawing  into  the  flask  or 
bell-jar  fresh  air,  which  he  puri- 
fies from  foreign  nmtters  by 
causing    it    to    pass    through  FIG.  16 

alcohol  or  a  solution  of  permanganate  of  potash.  It  seems  to  us 
that  this  plan  gives  more  complexity  and  trouble  without  additional 
security,  for  we  have  repeatedly  caused  spores  of  various  species  of  fungi 
to  germinate  after  they  had  been  one  or  two  minutes  in  alcohol ;  and 
spores  being  not  easily  wet  by  water,  they  would  readily  pass  without 
injury  iu  a  bubble  of  air  drawn  through  any  aqueous  solution.  The  risk 
of  spores  passing  through  an  inch  of  dry  cotton  loosely  packed  in  a  tube, 
unless  by  the  aid  of  a  strong  and  long-continued  current  of  air,  is  proba- 
bly very  small. 

Of  course  the  most  satisfactory  proof  of  the  presence  of  fungus  germs 
in  the  blood  would  be  to  see  them  actually  develop  under  the  microscope, 
and  produce  the  forms  by  which  they  could  be  identified.  To  this  end 
we  have  made  use  of  the  various  forms  of  growing  slides  known  to 
microscopists,  but  with  not  very  satistactory  results.  For  the  general 
purposes  of  a  growing  slide,  that  which  has  given  the  most  satisfaction 
is  made  by  laying  on  an  ordinary  glass  slide,  three  inches  by  one,  a  piece 
of  thin,  fine,  white  blotting  ])aper  of  the  same  size,  with  an  oi)eiiiug  in 
the  center  three-fourths  of  an  inch  iu  diameter,  or  a  little  less  tliau  that 
of  tlie  tliin  glass  cover  used.  The  edges  of  the  paper  may  be  cemented 
to  the  glass  with  a  little  Canada  balsam,  although  this  is  not  necessary. 
12 


178  DEPARTMEXT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

To  use  it,  put  in  strong*  alcoliol  for  ten  minutes,  then  in  distilled  water 
for  the  same  length  of  time;  free  the  central  o])ening  from  water;  place 
in  it  a  drop  of  the  flnid  ^o  be  cultivated,  and  cover  it  with  a  very  thin 
glass  cover.  Care  must  be  taken  to  keep  it  perfectly  flat.  Place  the 
slide  in  a  culture  apparatus,  in  which  water  alone  is  used  as  the  isolat- 
ing fluid;  let  one  end  of  a  piece  of  sewing  thread  rest  on  the  end  of  the 
slide,  and  the  other  dip  into  the  water. 

If  the  slide  is  to  be  used  without  being  placed  in  a  moist  chamber, 
the  paper  should  be  covered  with  a  piece  of  thin  sheet-rubber  or  oiled 
silk,  of  the  same  shape  and  size,  and  with  a  corresponding  opening.  If 
it  be  desired  to  use  high  powers,  or  to  trace  the  germinations  of  a  spore 
found  in  examining  a  slide,  the  glass  cover  may  rest  on  the  slide,  and 
the  blotting  paper  be  placed  on  instead  of  under  it. 

If  it  is  desired  to  develop  the  fruit,  the  drop  of  alimentary  fluid  should 
be  small,  and  a  groove  should  be  cut  in  the  paper  to  the  edge  of  the  slide 
"to  allow  the  admission  of  air.  The  amount  of  moisture  can  be  regulated 
at  will  by  varying  the  size  and  number  of  the  threads  used  to  keep  the 
paper  wet.  This  slide  is  simple,  cheap,  and  susceptible  of  being  so  modi- 
fied that  it  is  available  for  almost  every  purpose  for  which  a  growing 
slide  is  required. 

De  Bary's  growing  slides  were  also  used  several  times,  and  were  very 
satisfactory. 

Another  form  of  development  apparatus  which  was  used  towards  the 
close  of  our  experiments  consisted  of  a  six-ounce  glass  beaker,  having  a 
little  water  at  the  bottom,  and  hermetically  closed  by  a  piece  of  thin 
sheet-rubber  tightly  stretched  over  the  top.  From  the  center  of  this 
cover  there  was  suspended  by  a  thread  a  strip  of  thin  blotting  paper, 
which  had  been  pre%iously  soaked  in  alcohol  and  distilled  water,  and  on 
which  the  material  to  be  cultivated  had  been  placed.  The  thread  was 
attached  to  the  cover  and  the  paper  by  Canada  balsam.  This  is  a  sort 
of  isolation  apparatus,  and  is  more  satisfactory  than  the  one  used  by  Pro- 
fessor Ilallier. 

The  material  or  substratum  upon  which  the  cultures  are  made,  and 
which  is  intended  to  furnish  nutriment  to  the  fungi,  is  of  various  kinds. 
We  used  extract  of  beef,  healthy  blood,  condensed  milk,  solutions  of 
cane  and  grape  sugar,  pulp  of  lemon,  orange,  potato,  «&c.,  &c. 

The  solutions  of  sugar  used  were  made  with  crystallized  sugar,  and  a 
little  tartrate  of  ammonia  and  ashes  of  yeast  were  added  to  furnish  the 
nitrogen  and  salts  required  for  the  growth  of  fungi. 

All  the  api)aratus  W'as  thoroughly  cleansed  previous  to  use,  by  wash- 
ing with  alcohol  and  freshly  boiled  distilled  water,  and  the  solutions  of 
sugar,  milk,  Ix'cf  juice,  «S:c.,  were  thoroughly  boiled;  and,  if  filtered,  re- 
boiled  before  they  were  used. 


INVESTIGATION    AS    TO    ORIGIN    OF    CATTLE    DISEASES.        179 

Series  I. — Examinations  of  blood  and  secretions  from  cattle 

AFFECTED  WITH  CONTAGIOUS  PLEUROPNEUMONIA. 

A  COW  four  years  old  died  with  the  usual  symptoms  of  pleuro-pneu- 
monia,  near  Washingtou,  on  the  10th  day  of  February,  1869.  Examin- 
ation made  twenty  minutes  after  death.  The  lungs  were  stuffed  with 
exudation,  and  the  pleural  cavity  contained  a  quantity  of  turbid,  very 
fetid  liquid,  which,  under  the  microscope,  appeared  full  of  actively  mov- 
ing- monads  and  bacteria.  '  No  communication  was  found  between  the 
lung  and  tlie  pleural  cavity,  but  it  is  not  positive  that  such  did  not  exist. 
The  blood,  under  a  magnifying  power  of  twelve  hundred  diameters,  i)re- 
sented  no  abnormal  appearance.  Vacuum  tubes  were  filled  with  the 
blood,  and  specimens  of  the  pleural  fluid  anil,  of  the  bile  were  also  pre- 
served. The  latter  presented  no  unusual  appearance  under  the  micro- 
scope. 

Experiment  1,  February  10,  1869. — Three  six-ounce  isolation-flasks 
were  prepared ;  an  ounce  of  Tourtelot's  extract  of  beef  placed  in  each, 
boiled  five  minutes,  and  allowed  to  cool  to  90°  Fahrenheit.  To  the 
first  were  added  the  contents  of  one  of  the  vacuum  tubes  from  the 
cow  above  referred  to ;  to  the  second  that  of  a  tube  of  blood  from  a 
healthy  cow ;  to  the  third,  nothing.  The  flasks  were  then  placed  in  a 
water  bath,  and  kept  at  a  temperature  of  85°  Fahrenheit.  On  the  11th 
of  February  ther  flasks  were  opened.  No.  1  contained  large  numbers  of 
motionless  bacteria,  single  and  in  pairs.  No.  2  contained  a  very  few  of 
the  same.  No.  3  contained  none.  The  flasks  were  kept  one  week  longer, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  there  was  no  change  from  the  appearances 
above  mentioned. 

Experiment  2,  February  10,  1869. — Six  watch-glasses  were  arranged 
as  follows: -No.  1  contained  pulp  of  fresh  lemon  and  pleuro-pneumonic 
blood.  No.  2  contained  pulp  of  fresh  potato  and  pleuro-pneumonic 
blood.  No.  3  contained  pulp  of  fresh  lemon  and  healthy  blood.  No.  4 
contained  pulp  of  fresh  potato  and  healthy  blood.  No.  5  contained 
pulp  of  fresh  lemon  alone.  No.  6  contained  pulp  of  fresh  potato  alone. 
All  the  watch-glasses  were  placed  in  a  culture  apparatus,  which  was 
kept  at  80°  Fahrenheit  in  a  water  bath.  February  14th  a  beautiful 
growth  of  aspergillus  glaucus  (Lk.)  and  peuicillium  glaucum  (Fr.)  appeared 
on  watch-glass  Nos.  1, 2, 3, 5,  and  6 ;  most  profusely  on  Nos.  1  and  3.  Watch- 
glass  No.  4  contained  nothing. 

Experiment  3,  February  10,  1869. — Six  watch-glasses  were  arranged  : 
three  witli  pulp  of  lemon,  and  three  with  potato.  To  four  of  them  a 
few  drops  of  the  pleural  li(piid  were  added.  They  were  placed  in  the 
culture  apparatus,  and  in  four  days  aspergillus  and  penicillium  were 
in  fruit  in  all. 

Experiment  4,  February  10, 1869. — This  was  a  duplicate  of  experiment 
1,  with  the  exception  that  bile  was  used  instead  of  blood.     At  the  end 


180  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

of  ten  (lays  cnreAil  exaiuiuatioii  failed  to  discover  any  organic;  forms  in 
either  of  the  fhisks. 

Experiment  5,  Febrnary  25,  18C9.— One  of  the  vacunm  tubes  of 
Wood  from  tlie  above-mentioned  cow,  and  a  tube  of  healthy  blood  wliich 
had  been  put  up  at  tlie  same  time,  were  opened  and  carefully  examined. 
The  blood  in  each  was  coagulated,  free  from  ofi'ensive  odor,  and  under 
the  microscope  presented  no  nnusual  appearance.  The  contents  of  each 
tube  were  placed  in  a  one-ounce  vial  with  a  slip  of  purified  blotting  pa- 
per, the  vials  sealed  and  kept  at  a  temperature  of  70°  Fahrenheit.  Ten 
days  later  bacteria  and  vibriones  were  present  in  each,  but  no  trace  of 
mycelium  or  of  fungus  fructification. 

On  the  2Gth  of  February,  18G!),  a  cow  in  the  last  stages  of  pleuro-pneu- 
monia  was  killed  near  Washington,  and  vacuum  tubes  filled  from  the 
jngular  vein.  Tubes  were  also  filled  with  the  serum  contained  in  bulla? 
fornuHl  by  the  false  membrane  lining  the  bronchial  tubes. 

About  four  inches  of  each  jugular  vein  were  removed,  ligatures  having 
been  first  applied.  Eighteen  hours  afterwards  the  blood  in  the  veins 
from  which  the  tubes  had  been  filled  was  carefully  examined  with  a 
power  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  diameters.  It  was  coagulated,  and 
the  serum  contained  some  molecules,  single  or  in  chains  of  two  or  three, 
which  were  motionless,  (Fig.  1,  PI.  1.)  Blood  from  one  of  the  f  acuum 
tubes  contained  no  such  bodies.  The  lung  serum  contained  molecules 
like  those  in  the  vein. 

Experiment  6,  February  26,  18G9. — In  a  culture  apparatus  were 
placed  three  watch-glasses  and  two  growing  slides,  arranged  as  follows: 
The  growing  slides  and  watch-glass  No.  1  contained  boiled  potato  and 
diseased  blood ;  watch-glass  No.  2  contained  boiled  potato  and  healthy 
blood;  watch-glass  Xo.3  contained  boiled  potato  and  lung  fluid.  Twenty- 
four  hours  later,  in  the  growing  slides  the  red  corpuscles  had  nearly  dis- 
appeared; bacteria  and  monads,  single  or  in  short  chains,  were -seen':  a 
few  moving,  but  the  greater  i^art  at  rest.  Seven  days  later  there  was 
no  change;  motionless  bacteria  and  monads  were  present  in  all  the 
glasses,  but  no  trac^e  of  mycelium  or  spores. 

Experiment  7,  February  20,  1800.  —  Seven  watch-glasses  and  five 
gTowing  slides  were  arranged  as  follows  :  AVatch-glass  No.  1  contained 
j)Otato  l)oiled  in  distilled  water;  watch-glass  No.  2  contained  lemon  boil- 
ed in  distilled  water;  watch-glass  No.  o  contained  lemon  boiled  with  dis- 
ease<l  blood;  watch-glass  No.  4  contained  diseased  blood  alone;  watch- 
glass  No.  5  contained  healthy  bhxxl  alone;  watch-glass  No.  0  contained 
boiled  potato  with  diseased  blood;  watch-glass  No.  7  contained  boiled 
potato  with  healthy  blood;  growing  slide  A  contained  boiled  lemon  with 
diseased  blood;  growing  slide  B  contained  boiled  lemon  with  liealthy 
blood;  growing  slide  ('/ containecl  boiled  potato  with  diseased  blood; 
growing  slide  1)  contained  lK)ile(l  ])()tato  with  healtliy  blood ;  growing 
slide  Fj  contained  boiU'd  i)()tato  alone.  Tiiese  were  i)laced  in  four  sets 
of  culture  apparatus,  and  kept  at  a  temperature  of  78^^  Fahrenheit.    lu 


INVESTIGATION    AS    TO    ORIGIN    OF    CATTLE    DISEASES.        181 

twenty-four  hours  a  few  small  cells  were  seen  in  slide  B,  which  rapidty 
developed  into  ordinary  yeast,  continuing  to  l)ud  and  increase  for  four 
days.  The  fluids  in  watch-glasses  4  and  5  rapidly  putrefied,  and  were  filled 
with  bacteria  and  monads.  In  watch-glasses  1  and  2  and  growing  slide 
E  no  change  had  occurred  in  eight  days.  In  the  others  a  few  motionless 
bacteria  appeared  on  the  second  day,  after  which  there  was  no  change. 
The  precautions  taken  in  this  experiment  to  exclude  extraneous  bodies 
were  great,  embracing  every  point  which  could  be  thought  of  as  liable 
to  lead  to  error.  In  April  one  of  the  tubes  containing  lung  serum  from 
this  cow  was  given  to  Mr.  Reid,  residing  near  Washington,  and  with  its 
contents  he  successfully  inoculated  several  cattle,  producing  in  each  case 
the  same  effects,  and,  judging  by  the  after  results,  conferring  the  same 
immunity  against  the  disease  as  if  perfectly  fresh  virus  had  been  used. 
The  jugular  vein  from  this  cow,  which  had  not  been  opened,  was  sus- 
pended in  a  glass  jar,  closed  with  a  cork  dipped  in  parafSue.  This  was 
kept  at  the  ordinary  temperature  of  the  room  and  in  diffuse  daylight. 

June  3,  18G9,  the  jar  was  opened  and  the  contents  examined.  The 
serum  had  drained  from  the  vein  and  collected  in  the  bottom  of  the  jar, 
was  of  an  offensive  odor,  and  contained  bacteria,  moving  and  at  rest. 
Ko  trace  of  mold  on  the  outside  of  the  vein  The  contents  of  the  vein 
showed  no  bacteria  or  molecular  forms.  . 

Tiie  contents  of  the  vein  and  the  serum  which  had  drained  from  it 
were  cultivated  upon  various  substrata  and  in  the  several  forms  of 
apparatus,  with  the  usual  results,  viz :  luxuriant  development  of  cryp- 
tococcus  and  penicillium. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  1869,  three  months  after  it  had  been  put  up,  one 
of  the  vacuum  tubes  of  blood  from  this  animal  was  opened,  and  the  con-  ' 
tents  carefully  examined;  they  could  not  be  distinguished  from  freshly 
coagulated  blood ;  the  corpuscles  were  perfectly  normal,  and  there  was 
no  trace  of  bacteria  or  micrococcus. 

This  blood  was  cultivated  on  growing  slides  and  in  the  beaker  isola- 
tion apparatus— in  one  case  with  negative  results,  in  others  with  the 
productions  of  the  usual  penicillium  forms.  Healthy  blood  kept  for  the 
same  time  and  treated  in  the  same  way  gave  the  same  results. 

Other  experimeuts  were  made  with  the  pleuro-pneumonic  fluids  by 
cultivating  them  with  solutions  of  cane  and  grape  sugar,  which  will  be 
referred  to  subsequently. 

The  general  conclusion  from  all  the  observations  and  experiments  we 
have  made  is,  that  in  the  contagious  pleuropneumonia  of  cattle  there  is 
no  peculiar  fungus  germ  present  in  the  blood  or  secretions,  and  that  the 
theory  of  its  cryptogamic  origin  is  untenable. 

The  significance  of  the  appearance  of  bacteria,  monads,  penicillium, 
&c.,  in  the  experimeyts  above  given  will  be  hereafter  referred  to. 


182  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

SEUIES  II. — EXA:\riNATI()NS  OF  BLOOD  AND  SECRETIONS  FROM  CATTLE 
AFFECTED  WITH  THE  TEXAS  OR  SPLENIC  FEVER. 

On  the  30tli  of  Ai)ril,  1809,  two  four-year-old  steers  were  killed  at 
Corpus  Cliristi,  Texas,  and  vacuum  tubes  were  filled  by  Professor  Gam- 
gee  with  the  blood,  urine,  and  bile.  Professor  (iamgee's  notes  state  that 
the  spleen  of  these  animals  weighed  respectively  three  and  a  half  and 
three  and  three-quarter  pounds;  the  livers  were  fatty;  the  true  stomachs 
presented  erosions,  and  there  were  punctiform  ecchymoses  in  the  pelvis 
of  the  kidneys  and  in  the  bladder. 

The  blood  and  secretions  were  examined  microscoi)ically  by  Professor 
Gamgee,  immediately  after  the  death  of  the  animal,  with  a  power  of 
live  hundred  and  fifty  diameters,  but  nothing  unusual  was  discovered. 

On  the  25th  of  May  one  of  the  blood  tubes  was  opened,  and  the  con- 
tents examined  Avith  a  power  of  eight  hundred  diameters. 

The  blood  was  dark,  firmly  coagulated,  and  without  offensive  odor. 
No  white  corpuscles  were  seen ;  the  red  corpuscles  were  mostly  normal, 
a  few  being  crenated  or  triangular.  Patches  of  granular  matter,  a  few 
motionless  bacteria,  and  molecules,  single  or  in  chains  of  two  or  three, 
having  a  vibrating,  swarming  motion,  were  observed. 

In  short  all  the  ai)pearances  were  those  usually  presented  by  blood 
when  the  white  corpuscles  have  disintegrated  and  it  is  in  the  incipient 
stage  of  putrefaction.  But  besides  these  there  were  present  yellow 
globular  bodies,  smaller  than  the  red  blood  corpuscles,  mostly  united  by 
twos  and  threes,  though  in  some  cases  four  or  six  were  strung  together, 
and  presenting  the  general  characteristics  of  minute  spores.  Ether, 
liquor  potassa3,  and  sulphuric  acid  had  no  particular  effect  on  them. 
(Fig.  11,  PI.  1.) 

In  two  of  the  tubes  from  the  same  cattle,  opened  one  month  later,  the 
contents  were  putrefying,  and  micrococcus  and  bacteria  were  abundant. 

On  the  29th  of  May  vacuum  tubes  of  blood  and  secretions  from  two 
yearling  steers,  killed  at  Houston,  Texas,  May  18,  1809,  were  received 
and  examined.  These  animals  presented  the  usual  lesions — enlarged 
spleens,  erosions  of  the  stomach,  &c. 

The  blood  from  these  tubes  was  in  an  advanced  stage  of  putrefaction, 
and  filled  with  bacteria  and  micrococcus. 

The  bile  from  the  four-year-old  steers  was  normal  in  appearance ;  (hat 
from  the  one-year-old  animals  was  very  dark  and  tenacious.  Micrococcus 
was  found  in  each,  but  not  abundant.  In  each  there  were  found  nu)ving 
rods,  (bacteria?)  which  were  somewhat  peculiar,  one  end  being  bent, 
forming  a  little  knob  or  hook.  (Coi)i)er  plate.  Fig.  12.)  They  were  of 
an  orange  color,  ])robal)ly  owing  to  imbibition  of  biliary  coloring  matter. 
The  urine  in  each  set  of  tubes  was  found  to  contain  mi(aococcus, 
bacteria,  and  cryi)fococcus. 

Experiment  1. — Blood  from  the  first  series  of  tubes  was  i)laced  in 


INVESTIGATION    AS    TO    ORIGIN    OF    CATTLE    DISEASES.        183 

a  De  Bary's  growing  slide,  on  blotting  paper,  in  a  beaker  isolation  appa- 
ratns,  and  in  a  watch-glass  under  a  cnltnre  apparatus,  with  a  few  drops 
of  freslil}-  boiled  solution  of  sugar.  In  the  growing  slide  cryptococcus 
forms  were  observed  in  thirty-six  hours  ;  in  twelve  hours  more,  delicate 
mycelium  filaments  appeared,  and  on  the  fourth  day  the  usnal  fructifica- 
tion of  penicillium  crnstaceum  was  seen  in  the  air  space  in  the  slide. 
The  isolation  apparatus  was  opened  on  the  fifth  day,  and  penicillium 
found  on  the  blotting  paper.  In  the  watch-glass  cryptococcus  was 
developed  on  the  second  day;  two  days  later  this  was  very  abundant, 
and  of  various  sizes  and  forms,  including  G.  guttulatus  of  Ch.  Robin. 

Four  days  later  mycelial  filaments,  with  dilatations  of  various  forms 
and  sizes,  {Schizosporaiifjia  of  Hallier,)  covered  the  surface  of  the  blood. 
(Copper  plate,  Fig.  13.)  One  month  later  careful  examination  showed 
nothing  bat  penicillium. 

Experiment  2.— The  precautions  taken  in  this  case  were  very  great, 
and  were  as  follows:  The  beakers,  culture  apparatus,  watch-glasses, 
slides,  blotting  paper,  and  thread  were  treated  with  dilute  nitric  acid, 
then  with  liquor  potassse,  and  finally  rinsed  with,  hot,  freshly- distilled 
water.  The  knife,  glass  rod,  and  file  used  were  cleansed  in  hot  alcohol 
just  before  being  used.  The  vacuum  tubes  were  cleansed  with  liquor 
potassiE  and  alcohol  just  before  being  opened.  The  sheet-rubber  was 
thoroughly  washed  with  the  same  fluids. 

To  prepare  the  beaker  isolation  apparatus,  after  the  articles  used  had 
been  treated  as  above,  the  cover  with  blotting  paper  was  placed  on  the 
beaker,  strong  alcohol  having  been  first  poured  in,  and  then  it  was  thor- 
oughly shaken.  The  alcohol  was  then  removed  by  similar  treatment  with 
fresh  distilled  water.  The  apparatus  was  then  taken  to  a  room  in  which 
no  experiments  had  been  made,  and  the  fluids  added  to  the  blotting 
paper.  During  this  operation  the  interior  of  the  apparatus  w-as  exposed 
for  about  one  minute. 

Blood  from  four-year-old  steer  (first  set  of  vacuum  tubes)  was  placed 
in  a  De  Bary's  growing  slide,  in  a  watch-glass  with  pulp  of  lemon,  same 
with  pulp  of  orange ;  also  in  beaker  isolation  apparatus  on  lemon  and 
orange. 

Bh^od  from  one-year-old  steer  (second  set  of  vacuum  tubes)  was 
arranged  in  the  same  manner. 

And  lastly,  a  similar  series  of  apparatus  was  arranged  with  lemon 
and  orange  without  blood. 

The  growing  slides  and  watch-glasses  were  exauiined  daily,  with  i)owers 
ranging  from  two  hundred  to  one  thousand  diameters. 

At  the  end  of  five  days  the  isolation  beakers  were  opened.  The  phe- 
nomena in  all,  with  one  exception,  were  the  same.  Penicillium  crnsta- 
ceum (Fr.)  was  devijloped  in  all,  more  slowly  and  less  luxuriantly  where 
no  blood  had  been  added.  The  exception  referred  to  above  was  in  the 
watcli-glass  to  which  the  putrescent  blood  from  the  one-year-old  steer 
was  added ;  in  this  there  was  a  luxuriant  growth  of  mucor  racemosus, 


184  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

(Fros.,)  and  also  coremium,  a  luxuriant  and  fasciculated  form  of  peni- 
cilliuui. 

It  is  eousiderod  needless  to  give  the  details  of  all  the  culture  experi- 
ments undertaken  with  this  blood ;  suffice  it  to  say  that  it  was  placed  ou 
various  substrata  and  compared  witli  liealthy  blood,  and  the  results 
were  in  all  cases  the  same;  i.  e.,  production  of  penicillium,  coremium, 
and  mucor. 

In  cultures  undertaken  with  the  urine,  either  no  result  was  obtained 
or  the  usual  penicillium  made  its  appearance. 

Culture  of  the  bile  upon  lemon  gave  the  same  results,  but  the  penicil- 
lium growth  was  much  less  than  when  the  blood  was  used.  Disk-like 
masses  of  mycelium,  (the  Sclemtia  of  Hallier,)  usually  bright  yellow  in 
color,  were  produced  alike  with  diseased  and  healthy  blood. 

To  judge,  therefore,  from  the  specimens  that  we  have  had  the  oppor 
tunity  of  examining,  it  would  appear  that  in  the  blood,  bile,  and  urine  of 
cattle  slaughtered  in  Texas,  apparently  healthy  while  alive,  but  present- 
ing after  death  the  appearances  considered  characteristic  of  the  splenic 
fever,  there  are  present  minute  bodies  corresponding  to  the  micrococcus 
of  Hallier,  which  exhibit  the  same  behavior  with  reagents  as  the  spores 
of  fungi. 

In  the  bile  and  urine  bacteria  and  cryptococcus  cells  also  occur.  The 
micrococcus  granules,  however,  have  no  specific  characteristics,  and  can- 
not be  distinguished  from  similar  bodies  which  are  to  be  seen  in  any 
blood  in  an  incipient  stage  of  putrefaction.  Thus,  on  the  4th  of  June, 
vacuum  tubes  were  filled  with  blood  from  a  healthy  sheep  slaughtered 
near  Washington,  and  this  blood,  examined  sixty  hours  afterwards,  con- 
tained in  equal  abundance  these  same  bodies  (micrococcus)  that  were 
found  in  the  blood  of  the  Texas  cattle.  The  attempt  to  give  these 
micrococcus  molecules  a  special  and  important  character  by  the  "cultiva- 
tion "  in  various  ways  of  the  blood  containing  them,  also  failed.  In  all 
cases  the  fungous  growth  that  appeared  upon  the  cultivated  material 
was  composed  of  the  commonest  molds,  and,  instead  of  being  unique 
as  to  species  or  even  genus,  comprised  various  forms  and  sizes  of 
cryptococcus,  torula,  penicillium,  coremium,  mucor,  and  the  so-called 
schizosporangia  of  Hallier,  of  all  forms  and  sizes;  these  various  fungi 
being  either  simultaneously  or  successively  developed.  JNIoreover,  all 
these  varieties  of  fungi  can  be  also  developed  by  a  similar  cultivation  of 
healthy  blood,  though  not  as  rapidly  nor  in  as  great  luxuriance. 

The  fact  that  in  our  cultivations  we  never  obtained  any  growths  of 
ustilago,  coniothecium,  or  tilletia,  Avhich  were  so  frequently  produced  in 
riallier's  experiments,  is  probably  due  to  the  circumstance  that  no  speci- 
mens of  those  fungi  were  ever  brought  into  the  room  where  our  exjjeri- 
ments  were  conducted. 

In  cases  of  splenic  fever  of  cattle  our  experiments,  therefore,  fail  to 
establish  the  presence  of  any  peculiar  or  special  cryptogamic  germs  in 
the  blood  ;  and,  instead  of  supporting  the  notion  that  the  micrococcus 


INVESTIGATION    AS    TO    ORIGIN    OF    CATTLE    DISEASES.       185 

gTanules  wliicli  are  present  in  any  way  cause  the  disease,  tend  rather  to 
show  that  their  occurrence  shonUl  be  considered  as  an  effect  of  the  malady, 
whether  constant  and  inherent,  or  altogether  fortuitous ;  for  since  these 
granules,  if  fungous  in  their  nature,  must  be,  as  hidicated  by  the  cultiva- 
tions, forms  of  the  very  commonest  molds,  it  is  certainly  a  much  more 
probable  hypothesis  that  the  disease  so  destroys  the  vitality  of  a  part  of 
the  blood  as  to  render  it  capable  of  supporting  and  nourishing  a  low 
form  of  these  ubiquitous  fungi,  which  perish  when  introduced  into  a 
healthy  subject,  than  it  is  to  imagine  a  deadly  disease,  occurring  only 
under  certain  rigidly  prescribed  conditions,  as  caused  by  the  presence,  in 
the  economy  of  the  germs,  of  fungi  notoriously  harmless  and  of  universal 
occurrence. 

It  is,  of  course,  possible  that  these  fungi,  developed  in  the  fluids  of  a 
diseased  animal,  may  become  the  carriers  of  contagium.  This  can  only 
be  determined  by  a  series  of  inoculations  upon  healthy  cattle. 

While  the  experiments  reported  above  were  still  in  progress,  we  were 
fortunate  enough  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  Transactions  of  the  New  York 
State  Agricultural  Society  for  1867,  containing  the  "  Eeport  of  the  New 
York  State  Cattle  Commissioners,"  in  connection  with  the  "  Special  report 
of  the  Metropolitan  Board  of  Health  on  the  cattle  disease."  This  report 
we  read  with  interest. 

The  conclusions  of  Professor  Hallier  we  do  not  accept,  for  three  reasons : 
Fkst,  because  the  fluids  sent  to  him  were  not  put  up  with  the  proper 
precautions  for  exclusion  of  extraneous  spores;  second,  because  the 
culture  apparatus  used  by  him  does  not  give  reliable  results,  as  we  have 
found  by  experiment ;  and  lastly,  because  his  reasoning  is  based  on  a 
pecidiar  theory  of  his  own,  that  penicillium,  mucor,  &c.,  are  merely  unripe 
forms  of  certain  ustilagineous  fungi,  a  theory  which  cannot  be  discussed 
here,  but  of  which  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  it  has  been  accepted  by  no 
other  prominent  mycologist. 

The  statement  of  Dr.  Stiles,  that  "the  fungous  origin  of  zymotic  dis- 
eases is  now  conceded  by  the  highest  authorities  in  mycological  research," 
will  no  doubt  surprise  the  said  authorities ;  for  Berkeley,  Curtis,  and 
De  Bary,  the  highest  authorities  in  England,  America,  and  Germany, 
most  assuredly  concede  nothing  of  the  kind. 

With  a  culture  apparatus,  a  lenu)n,  and  a  little  albuminous  fluid,  such 
as  blood,  serum,  white  of  egg,  &c.,  it  is  very  easy  to  obtain  almost  any 
kind  of  mold ;  but  the  laws  of  <levelopment  of  such  organisms  are  not 
yet  sufficiently  known  to  enable  one  to  draw  decisive  inferences  from  the 
results. 

With  regard  to  the  magnifying  power  necessary  for  the  examination 
of  minute  cryptogamic  forms,  it  has  usually  been  overratcnl.  A  good 
one-fifth  objective  is  all  that  is  necessary,  and  in  making  observations 
on  growing  slides  is  the  highest  power  that  can  be  conveniently  used. 
We  have,  it  is  true,  used  mucli  higlier  powers,  but  do  not  consider  them 
necessary,  or  even  desirable,  in  microscopic  investigations  of  this  char- 
acter. 


186  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 


REMAKKS. 


Ill  a  geiicral  way  it  may  be  stated,  that  all  abnormal  appearances 
observed  in  the  tlnids  examined  were  such  as  might  be  attributed  to 
putrefaction.  Although  much  remains  to  be  learned  as  to  the  causes 
and  nature  of  this  process,  the  tendency  of  modern  science  is  to  class  it 
as  a  species  of  fermentation,  which  may  be  dotined  as  a  particular  mode 
of  decomposition  of  organized  bodies,  accompanied  by  the  growth  of  cells 
of  a  fungoid  character,  supposed  to  be  the  active  agents  in  the  process. 

In  fluids  undergoing  the  alcoholic,  the  acetic,  lactic,  or  butyric  acid 
fermentations,  in  wine  affected  with  the  bitter  fermentation,  or  in  a 
solution  of  tannic  acid  changing  to  gallic  acid,  we  find  minute  cells,  in 
German  called  "  Hefe,"  in  French  "  mycoderms,"  in  English  "  yeast." 
Although  the  cells  of  ordinary  yeast  and  those  of  the  mycoderma  vini 
aceti,  or  lactis,  ditfer  in  shape  and  size,  it  is  supposed  that  these  varia- 
tions are  due  to  the  character  of  the  fluids  by  which  they  are  nourished, 
and  that  they  are  all  really  derived  from  the  same  source,  namely,  the 
ordinary  moulds.  Common  brewers'  yeast  {Cryptococcus  cerevisi)  is  now 
thought  to  be  not  a  distinct  species  of  plant,  but  merely  a  stage  of 
development  of  several  different  genera  of  fungi,  such  as  penicillium, 
aspergillus,  mucor,  and  perhaps  several  others.  And  the  same  is  proba- 
bly true  of  the  other  mycoderms. 

\^^len  organic  substances  rich  in  nitrogen  decompose,  the  action  is 
termed  putrefaction ;  and  in  all  such,  when  examined  with  a  sufficiently 
high  magnitying  power,  there  will  be  found  little  molecules,  either  single 
or  in  chains  of  from  two  to  six,  and  minute  colorless  rods,  single  or  in 
chains  of  two  or  three,  straight  or  spirally  twisted,  rigid  or  flexible.  All 
of  these  may  be  at  rest  or  in  motion ;  if  the  latter,  it  may  be  a  vibrating, 
trembling  motion,  without  change  of  place,  or  a  direct  propulsion  through 
the  fluid.  These  minute  organisms  have  been  successively  considered  as 
aniumls,  as  algre  or  water  plants,  and  as  fungi.  The  globular  molecules 
are  termed  monads,  and  more  recently  micrococcus.  The  rods  have 
received  many  names,  but  are  usually  known  as  bacteria.  The  tendencj'^ 
of  investigators  of  this  subject  is  to  consider  these  monads  and  bacteria 
as  the  mycoderms  of  the  i)utrefactive  fermentation,  and  to  suppose  that 
they  also  are  but  one  form  of  development  of  penicillium  and  other 
common  molds.  Mrs.  J.  Luders  asserts  that  she  has  seen  the  bacteria 
emerge  from  spores  of  penicillium  ])laced  in  meat  juice,  and  the  pro- 
duction of  yeast  by  adding  putrefying  fluids  to  saccharine  solutions 
has  been  repeatedly  accomplished. 

We  have  performed  some  experiments  on  this  subject  which  may  per- 
hai)s  be  of  interest. 

Our  aim  was  to  develop  in  a  saccharine  solution  an  unmistalcable 
yeast  cell  with  its  attendant  special  form  of  fernu'utation,  from  a  vibrio 
or  bact(Tinin  ('ontained  in  a  putrefying  Huid  ;  and  the  practical  ])rol)lem 
was  to  devise  some  means  whereby  the  putrid  fluid  might  be  added  to 


INVESTIGATION    AS    TO    ORIGIN    OF    CATTLE    DISEASES. 


187 


the  sugar  solution,  witliont  at  the  same  time  any  yeast  cells,  which  it 
might  accideutally  contain,  also  passing  into  the  solution  and  so  vitiat- 
ing the  result.  To  accomplish  this  end  we  availed  ourselves  of  the  dif- 
ferent behavior  of  yeast  cells  on  the  one  hand  and  the  various  crypto- 
gamic  organisms  of  putrid  fluids  on  the  other,  in  respect  to  their  ability 
to  pass  through  certain  tissues.  jS'ow,  bacteria,  vibrios,  and  molecules, 
either  single  or  in  chains,  {Monas,  3Iicrozymas^  Micrococcm,  Leptothrix, 
Zoofjiea  and  Sohizomycetes,  of  various"  authors,)  Avill  readily  pass 
through  thoroughly  moistened  filtering  paper;  while,  as  originally  shown 
by  Mitzscherlich,  (Pogg.  AnnaL,  1855,  p.  224,)  and  again  proven  by  the 
following  experiments,  yeast  cells  will  not.  Furthermore,  none  of  the 
above-mention(^d  bodies  will  pass  through  vegetable  parchment,  although 
fluids  will.  If,  then,  upon  adding  a  putrefying  fluid  to  a  saccharine 
solution,  through  the  intervention  of  filtering  paper,  we  produce  yeast 
and  fermentation  in  that  solution,  while  upon  making  the  addition 
through  vegetable  parchment  we  produce  none,  the  method  of  the 
experiment  leaves  no  doubt  that  the  yeast  must  have  been  developed 
from  cryptogamic  germs  other  than  yeast  contained  in  the  putrid  mat- 
ter. To  carry  out  this  plan  of  experiment,  the  following  apparatus  was 
used : 

In  a  four  or  six-ounce  glass  beaker  (not  lipped)  was  ])laced  a  tube, 
made  by  cutting  oft"  the  bottom  of  a  common  test  tube, 
three-fourths  inch  in  diameter  and  as  high  as  the  beaker. 
This  tube  was  open  at  the  toji,  but  closed  at  the  bottoUi 
by  two  layers  of  tine,  strong  filtering  ijaper  tied  tightly 
over  the  flaring  end  with  waxed  string,  and  rested  on  a 
fragment  of  glass  rod  placed  in  the  beaker ;  all  these 
articles  having  been  carefully  washed,  were  put  together 
as  described,  and  about  two  ounces  of  hot  strong  alco- 
hol were  poured  into  both  the  tube  and  beaker.  A 
piece  of  thin  sheet  rubber  was  next  tied  over  the  top, 
hermetically  closing  both  beaker  and  tube,  and  the 
whole  apparatus,  having  been  thoroughly  shaken,  so  that  the  hot  liquid 
should  come  fully  in  contact  with  every  part,  was  then  set  aside  to  cool 
until  wanted. 

The  solution  to  be  experimented  on,  which  had  been  boiled,  filtered, 
and  then  reboiled  in  a  flask  fitted  up  as  an  isolation  ai)paratus,  was  in 
the  mean  time  cooling  in  that  vessel.  When  this  had  cooled  to  about 
85°,  the  alcoliol  was  removed  froai  the  apparatus  and  the  tube  Avas 
rinsed  with  a  little  freshly  distilled  water.  Tiien  from  one  to  two  ounces 
of  the  solution  to  be  experimented  on  was  i)laced  in  tlie  beaker,  while  a 
little  of  the  putrefying  or  fermenting  fluid  was  put  in  the  iniun-  tube. 
Tlie  sheet-rubber  was  finally  stretched  tightly  over  all  and  tied  as  before, 
and  tlie  api)!natus  was  then  kei)t  at  a^  temperature  of  75°  Fahrenheit 
to  85°  Fahrenheit  in  ditfused  day  light,  (Figure  -i.) 


FIG. 17 


> 

188  DEPARTMENT    OF   AGRICULTURE. 

The  solutions  used  were  of  caue  or  grape  sugar,  mixed  witli  extract  of 
beef,  or  with  tartrate  of  amiuonia  and  ashes  of  yeast. 
The  two  foHowing  forniuhe  gave  the  best  results  : 

A. 

Cane  sugar 10  parts. 

Tourtelot's  extract  of  beef 10  parts. 

Water 100  parts. 

B. 

Caue  sugar 10  parts. 

Tartrate  of  auiinonia 5  parts. 

Ashes  of  yeast o  parts. 

Water 80  parts. 

Experiment  1. — On  the  21:th  of  March,  18G9,  solution  A  was  placed 
in  five  beakers,  the  tubes  of  which  were  closed  with  paper.  In  the  tube 
of  2«ro.  1  was  put  a  teaspoonful  of  fresh  yeast ;  in  those  of  Jfos.  2  and  3 
some  putrefying  fluid  from  lung  of  pleuro-pneumonic  cow ;  in  Xo.  4  was 
placed  a  fluid  coutaining  large  and  lively  bacteria  taken  fi'om  a  can  of 
preserved  roast  meat  which  had  spoiled  ;  to  No.  5  nothing  was  added. 
Two  ounces  of  the  solution  were  also  retained  iu  the  flask  which  had 
remained  uncorked  for  fifteen  minutes. 

In  twenty-four  hours  the  rubber  cover  of  No.  1  was  disteiuled,  pre- 
senting a  well-marked  convexity.  Bubbles  of  gas  were  rising  iu  the 
tube,  but  none  iu  the  beaker.  The  covers  of  Nos.  2,  3,  and  4  were 
slightly  distended,  aud  a  few  bubbles  appeared  on  the  outside  of  the 
tubes.     No.  5  was  unchanged. 

In  forty-eight  hours  the  covers  of  the  first  four  beakers  were  strongly 
distended,  showing  that  the  closure  was  perfect,  (an  important  point.) 

In  No.  1  the  bubbles  were  still  confined  to  the  inside  of  the  tube, 
while  iu  Nos.  2,  3,  aud  4  they  were  chiefly  on  the  outside  of  the  tubes. 
No.  2  was  now  opened.  The  fluid  in  the  beaker  was  turbid,  filled  with 
molecules,  chains  of  granules,  aud  bacteria.  It  also  contained  well- 
marked  yeast  cells,  separate,  and  just  beginning  to  bud. 

The  next  day,  ]\Iarch  27,  beakers  1,  3,  and  4  were  opened.  In  No.  1 
the  yeast  was  confined  to  the  tube,  in  which  it  was  in  full  growth. 
Not  one  yeast  cell  could  be  found  in  the  outer  fluid. 

In  Nos.  3  and  4  there  was  abuiubmt  growth  of  yeast  in  the  beakers; 
greatest  in  No.  4.  In  No.  5  there  was  no  change,  nor  has  any  occurred 
at  this  date. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  beakers  were  arranged  a  series  of  growing 
slides  was  prepared  and  charged  with  the  same  fluids.  The  changes  iu 
these  corresiK)n(h'd  precisely  with  those  iu  the  beakers,  except  that  they 
were  more  slow. 

Experiment  2.  —  Two  beakers  were  arranged  with  solution  A.  The 
tube  of  No.  1  was  closed  with  vegetable  parchment,  that  of  No.  2  with 


INVESTIGATION    AS    TO    ORIGIN    OF    CATTLE    DISEASES,        189 

filtering  paper.  Putrefying  fluid  from  tlie  lung  of  a  pleuro-pneumonic 
cow  was  placed  in  the  tubes,  care  being  taken  in  No.  1  that  this  fluid 
should  stand  at  the  same  height  as  the  solution  of  sugar  in  the  beaker. 

In  twenty-four  hours  decided  osmose  from  the  tube  to  the  beaker  liad 
occurred  in  No.  1,  and  the  rubber  cover  was  concave.  In  forty-eight 
hours  the  cover  was  still  concave  and  the  fluid  in  the  tube  was  three- 
fourths  of  an  inch  lower  than  in  the  beaker.  In  beaker  No.  2  the  cover 
was  distended  and  yeast  Avas  evidently  in  active  development. 

Four  days  later  the  beakers  were  opened.  The  cover  of  No.  1  was 
now  very  slightly  convex  ;  yeast  cells  were  found  in  the  tube  but  none 
in  the  beaker,  although  the  latter  contained  molecules  or  micrococcus. 
In  No.  2  the  cover  was  now  concave,  owing  to  fructification  of  penicil- 
lium  within  the  tube.  Yeast  cells  were  found  abundant  in  the  beaker. 
Experiment  3.— Eight  beakers  were  arranged  with  solution  B,  the 
tubes  being  adjusted  as  follows  : 

Nos.  1  and  2,  closed  with  filtering  paper ;  contents,  putrefying  roast 
beef.  Nos.  3  and  4  closed  with  filtering  paper ;  contents,  blood  of  pleuro- 
pneumonic  cow.  No.  5,  closed  with  filtering  paper ;  contents,  fresh  yeast. 
No.  6,  closed  with  vegetable  parchment ;  contents,  fluid  as  in  Nos.  1  aud  2. 
No.  7  closed  with  vegetable  parchment;  contents,  fluid  as  in  Nos.  3 
and  4.  No.  8,  closed  with  vegetable  parchment;  contents,  nothing 
added. 

To  each  beaker,  except  G  and  7,  two  growing  slides  were  prepared 
with  the  same  fluids.  April  14  the  beakers  were  opened.  Nos.  1,  2,  3, 
and  4  contained  abundance  of  yeast,  and  the  covers  were  strongly  con- 
vex. Nos.  5,  6,  and  7  contained  yeast  cells  in  the  tube,  but  none  in  the 
beaker ;  the  yeast  in  No.  G  was  very  scanty.  No.  8  remained  unchanged. 
The  growing  slides  were  watched  from  day  to  day.  Yeast  cells  appeared 
in  those  corrt*spoudiug  to  beakers  1  and  2  in  48  hours ;  in  those  corres- 
ponding to  3  and  4  one  day  later.  They  appeared  in  those  correspond- 
ing to  beaker  No.  8  on  the  sixth  day,  but  none  had  appeared  in  the 
beaker  on  the  tenth  day. 

A  number  of  other  experiments  were  made  on  this  subject,  the  results 
of  the  majority  of  Avhich  were  in  accordance  with  those  above  given. 
Several  times  the  conclusions  were  vitiated  fro;n  the  fact  that  yeast 
developed  in  the  sugar  solution  when  nothing  was  added. 

It  seems  probable,  in  view  of  the  results  of  the  above  experiments, 
that  some  of  the  bacteria  and  micrococcus  germs  are  really  fungoid  in 
character  and  capable  of  development  into  higher  forms. 

It  is  unlikely  that  all  the  minute  organisms  above  referred  to  are  of 
the  same  character,  but  any  attempt  at  classitication  of  them  is  of  very 
doubtful  utility.  If  it  is  ever  successfully  done  it  will  pr()1)ably  be  by 
the  application  of  chemical  tests.  We  may  nuMition  that  a  solution  of 
suli)hate  of  (piinine  st()i)s  the  motion  of  bacteria  very  rapidly,  while 
strychnine  has  no  particular  efiect ;  and,  again,  in  a  solution  of  pure 


190  DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE. 

carbolic  acid,  two  grains  to  the  ounce,  we  have  seen  them  quite  lively 
twenty-four  hours  after  they  h^d  been  ])laeed  in  it. 

We  do  not  suppose  the  above  will  hohl  good  for  all  bacteria;  indeed, 
we  have  seen  some  that  were  rendered  motionless  almost  instantane- 
ously by  solution  of  carbolic  acid. 

If  the  above  expressed  view  of  the  nature  of  these  bodies  be  accepted 
as  i^robable,  the  results  of  the  culture  experiments  with  the  fluids  of 
diseased  and  healthy  animals  can  be  readily  understood.  In  many  ani- 
mals, whether  healthy  or  diseased,  there  are  no  fungus  germs  in  the 
blood.  We  have  kept  vacuum  tubes  of  blood  for  foiu-  months,  and  at 
the  end  of  that  time  the  contents  w^ere  perfectly  normal.  In  other  ani- 
mals there  are  probably  germs  in  the  blood  during  life,  as  shown  by  the 
fact  that,  in  vacuum  tubes  filled  from  them,  the  blood  putrefied  and  the 
usual  mycoderms  developed.  But  that  these  germs  can  develop  and 
multiply,  without  dead  organic  material  as  a  pabulum,  is  very  doubtful. 

The  fungi,  w^hich  are  developed  from  blood  containing  these  germs, 
are,  as  might  be  expected,  the  common  molds,  the  spores  of  which  are 
almost  ubiquitous.  Most  frequently  penicillum,  next  mucor,  next 
asi^ergillus. 

Other  forms  may  apx^ear,  and  those  above  mentioned  may  vary  greatly 
in  size,  color,  and  rapidity  of  development. 

As  was  stated  in  the  beginning,  our  object  was  to  determine  the  pres- 
ence, and,  as  far  as  possible,  the  nature  of  these  germs.  The  query  as 
to  the  connection  between  them  and  disease,  whether  they  should  be 
considered  as  specific  causes  of  the  disease,  or  as  carriers  of  contagium, 
or  as  the  signs  of  destruction  of  vitality  of  a  part  of  the  fluids  or  tissues 
in  which  they  are  found,  said  destruction  being  due  to  some  other 
cause,  is  one  of  great  interest;  but  for  the  answeiing  of  wh  c'l  the 
"  lancet  and  injection  tube  "  will  probably  be  far  more  efficacious  than 
the  microscope  and  "  culture  apparatus." 

J.  S.  BILLIXGS, 
Bvt.  Lt.  Col.  and  Asst.  Surg.  U.  S.  Army. 
EDWAED  CUKTIS, 
Bvt.  Maj.  and  Asst.  Surg.  U.  S.  Army. 


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